Drought-Hit Danube Gives Way to Fossil Hunt in Bulgaria

The parching drought gripping Europe has transformed the Danube River into a historical treasure trove, revealing ancient fossils and long-lost artifacts. In northern Bulgaria, near where mammoth bones were discovered last month, volunteers scoured the exposed riverbanks, hoping to unearth more prehistoric fragments.

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I've found a tooth!

Aleksandar Denkov, a 30-year-old amateur photographer, excitedly held up a yellowish fragment, exclaiming, "I've found a tooth!" He was among about 20 volunteers, many driven by the hope of finding mammoth fossils, in a search organized by the Ruse Regional History Museum. While their primary goal wasn't fully met, the group discovered remains of a mammal, possibly an aurochs or European bison, a horse jawbone, and fossilized oysters estimated to be 60 to 65 million years old.

Experts attribute Europe's drought, exacerbated by human-induced climate change, to major rivers slowing to a trickle. This has caused significant disruptions for cargo shipping and nuclear power plants reliant on river water for cooling. However, the receding waters have also brought previously unseen historical items to light. Recent weeks have seen World War II shipwrecks emerge in Austria and Serbia, and the remains of two German soldiers and a motorbike found in Budapest.

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to teach people how to recognize different finds, show them what they might uncover, and give them safety tips.

Krasimir Kirov, a curator at the Ruse museum, stated the field day aimed to educate people on identifying finds and provide safety tips. "After the mammoth was discovered, I started getting dozens of calls from people telling me about what they'd found," he said. The discovery of a mammoth jawbone and other skeletal fragments in Ryahovo village last month, announced on social media, spurred keen interest in organized searches.

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After the mammoth was discovered, I started getting dozens of calls from people telling me about what they'd found.

Despite initial instructions to advance in a line and avoid touching metal objects due to potential ammunition, enthusiasm quickly led to a dispersed search. "It's a very rare opportunity to feel this close to history," said Ekaterina Yordanova, a 34-year-old psychologist. "Seeing the Danube in this state is worrying, but it also gives us the chance to discover new things." Vladimir Tsvyatkov, a 44-year-old business owner, brought his family for the adventure, noting he had "never seen the Danube so dried up" despite growing up by its banks.

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It's a very rare opportunity to feel this close to history.