European (Washington Insider Magazine)-The recent European drought has caused record-setting low water levels in rivers and lakes. The low water levels have exposed many long-lost treasures and even hazards. While the European drought is devastating, many tourists and locals are gathering to see the historical artifacts be unearthed.
Archaeologists in Spain, which has been suffering its worst drought in recent memory, are ecstatic about the reemergence of the “Spanish Stonehenge.” This artistic masterpiece is a prehistoric stone circle that the waters of the nearby dam had previously covered.
Its official name is Dolmen of Guadalperal, and it used to be one of the top attractions in the regional area. Presently, it lies in the Valdecanas reservoir fully exposed as water levels in the reservoir have dropped to nearly 28% capacity.
Since its discovery in 1926 by Hugo Obermaier, the piece has only been fully visible a total of four times. This is because rural flooding caused by a local development in 1963 limited its visibility and completely obscured the art under the water.
Spain isn’t the only area that’s seen a resurgence in ancient artifacts due to the lowered water level.
Germany’s famous “hunger stones” have begun reappear along the River Rhine, which has been a sobering reminder to the people of all the hardships faced during a drought. Recently, many can be found along the banks of Germany’s largest river. The dates visible on the stones are from 1947, 1959, 2003, and 2018.
In addition to this historical discovery, more than 20 German sunken warships from World War II have been seen in the Danube River as river levels fall to one of the lowest lengths in nearly a century. These ships have historical significance that has united historians across Europe and the surrounding countries, dating back to 1944, when Nazi Germany’s Black Sea fleet sunk hundreds of ships to hinder any traffic along the river as they retreated frm the Soviet advance.
A final artifact was unearthed last week: a 1000-pound World War Two bomb found around the River Po in Italy.
As citizens gathered, the low running water made the previously submerged bomb visible – which prompted the Italian government to declare a state of emergency for the surrounding area to begin the bomb removal process.
In total, roughly 3000 people living in the area had to be evacuated while the military began their tasks. The bomb was successfully defused, and a controlled explosion was carefully carried out to decommission the bomb safely.
These particular bombs were mostly used for destroying reinforced locations like dams and railroad bridges made of concrete or steel. None of the artifacts have been deemed unsafe to visit, and crowds continue to gather along the sites for once-in-a-lifetime views.