Droughts Expose Lost Treasures

In 1944, during World War II, dozens of German battleships were sunk in the Danube River in Serbia. Europe’s recent extreme drought caused the Danube to partially dry up, exposing more than 20 of these WWII relics. Many of the ships still contain ammunition and explosives. That poses a risk to modern ships navigating the river. In the coming years, the Serbian government plans to remove the explosives and destroy the vessels. “You don’t get to see this part of history very often because shipwrecks, by their very nature, usually end up in places that are basically invisible to people,” says McGimsey.

In 1944, World War II was raging. Dozens of German battleships were sunk in the Danube River in Serbia. During Europe’s recent extreme drought, the Danube partly dried up. More than 20 of these WWII wrecks were exposed. Many of the ships still contain ammunition and explosives. That’s dangerous for modern ships that travel the river. So the Serbian government plans to remove the explosives and destroy the vessels in the coming years. “You don’t get to see this part of history very often because shipwrecks, by their very nature, usually end up in places that are basically invisible to people,” says McGimsey.

Last summer, as Europe suffered its worst drought in 500 years, receding water levels in Czechia exposed eerie echoes from the past. The Elbe River plummeted, revealing boulders engraved with strange messages and dates. Past civilizations created these markers, which are sometimes called “hunger stones.” They were used to record the water level during periods of drought and famine. Whenever the stones become visible, it means the water is dangerously low. Scientists know of approximately 25 hunger stones along rivers in Germany and Czechia. Studying these stones allows scientists to learn about past droughts, as far back as the 1400s.

Last summer, Europe had its worst drought in 500 years. Water levels fell in Czechia. That exposed eerie echoes from the past. When the Elbe River dropped, boulders appeared. Strange messages and dates were engraved on them. Past civilizations created these markers. Sometimes they’re called “hunger stones.” They were used to record the water level during drought and famine. When the stones become visible, the water is dangerously low. Scientists know of about 25 hunger stones along rivers in Germany and Czechia. They can study these stones to learn about past droughts, as far back as the 1400s.

Glen Canyon is a deep gorge that stretches from Utah to Arizona. In 1966, it was purposefully flooded to create Lake Powell, the second-largest reservoir in the U.S. Many people thought that Glen Canyon was lost forever. But now the American Southwest is in the midst of a megadrought—a drought lasting for more than two decades. Since 2000, Lake Powell’s water level has been dropping. By 2022, the water had dropped low enough to once again reveal Glen Canyon’s impressive arches and rock formations, as well as artifacts left by Indigenous people who lived there thousands of years ago. “For many people, there had always been a lake there—that’s all they ever knew,” says McGimsey. Now “there’s a whole new world exposed that they had no idea existed.”

Glen Canyon is a deep gorge. It stretches from Utah to Arizona. In 1966, it was purposely flooded to create Lake Powell. That’s the second-largest reservoir in the U.S. Many people thought that Glen Canyon was lost forever. But now the American Southwest is experiencing a megadrought. Such a drought lasts for more than two decades. Since 2000, Lake Powell’s water level has been dropping. By 2022, the water had dropped enough to reveal Glen Canyon’s impressive arches and rock formations again. It also revealed artifacts from Indigenous people. They lived there thousands of years ago. “For many people, there had always been a lake there—that’s all they ever knew,” says McGimsey.  Now “there’s a whole new world exposed that they had no idea existed.”

Normally, these fossilized footprints are hidden beneath the Paluxy River, which flows through Dinosaur Valley State Park in Texas. But in August 2022, the river almost completely dried up, revealing the tracks. They were likely made about 113 million years ago by an Acrocanthosaurus. This carnivorous, or meateating, dino towered 4.6 meters (15 feet) tall and walked upright on two legs. Visitors flocked to the park to get a glimpse of the tracks. “For a lot of people, history is something you learn about in books or a museum,” says McGimsey. “When things become exposed, there’s a real sense of being able to see—and in some cases, touch—pieces of history.”

Normally, these fossilized footprints are hidden beneath the Paluxy River. It flows through Dinosaur Valley State Park in Texas. But in August 2022, the river almost completely dried up. This revealed the tracks. A carnivorous dinosaur likely made them about 113 million years ago. This meat-eating dino is known as Acrocanthosaurus. It stood 4.6 meters (15 feet) tall and walked upright on two legs. Visitors flocked to the park to see the tracks. “For a lot of people, history is something you learn about in books or a museum,” says McGimsey. “When things become exposed, there’s a real sense of being able to see—and in some cases, touch—pieces of history.”

When a reservoir in central Spain receded during last year’s heat wave, archaeologists got the rare chance to see the Dolmen of Guadalperal. This circle of standing stones dates to around 5,000 b.c. The site is often compared to Stonehenge, a similar ancient monument in England. Researchers believe the Dolmen may have been a prehistoric burial ground or a temple for worshipping the sun. The stones were discovered in 1926 by Hugo Obermaier, a German archaeologist. In 1963, the area was purposely flooded to create the Valdecañas reservoir. Since then, water has receded enough to fully reveal the ancient monument only four times.

During last year’s heat wave, water levels dropped in a reservoir in central Spain. Archaeologists got the rare chance to see the Dolmen of Guadalperal. This circle of standing stones dates to around 5,000 B.C. The site is often compared to Stonehenge. That’s a similar ancient monument in England. Researchers believe the Dolmen may have been a prehistoric burial ground or a temple for sun worship. German archaeologist Hugo Obermaier discovered the stones in 1926. In 1963, the area was purposely flooded to create the Valdecañas reservoir. Since then, water has dropped enough to fully reveal the Dolmen only four times.