Drought reveals ancient history along Danube River banks

Europe's severe drought has dramatically lowered water levels in major rivers, including the Danube, uncovering a wealth of historical and fossilized remains. In northern Bulgaria, volunteers recently scoured the dried-up banks of the Danube near Ruse, hoping to find more mammoth fossils exposed by the receding waters.

“

I've found a tooth!

Among the participants was Aleksandar Denkov, a 30-year-old amateur photographer who discovered a yellowish fragment he identified as a tooth. He joined about 20 other volunteers, organized by the Ruse Regional History Museum, in their search for prehistoric evidence. While they did not find mammoth fossils, the group did uncover remains of a mammal, possibly an aurochs or European bison, along with a subfossil horse jawbone and fossilized oysters dating back 60 to 65 million years.

The low water levels have created an unusual opportunity to access historical sites and artifacts. Finds in recent weeks along the Danube have included World War II shipwrecks in Austria and Serbia, as well as the remains of two German soldiers and a motorbike in Budapest. These discoveries highlight the hidden history submerged beneath the rivers.

“

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 Regional History Museum, stated the museum organized the event to educate the public on identifying potential finds and providing safety tips. He noted a surge in calls from people reporting discoveries after a mammoth jawbone was found nearby. The initiative to gather for a guided search near Ryahovo generated significant interest, with more outings planned.

“

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

Volunteers were instructed to advance in a line and stop if something was spotted, with a strict warning against touching any metal objects due to potential explosives. However, enthusiasm quickly led to the line breaking. Ekaterina Yordanova, a 34-year-old psychologist, described the experience as a rare chance to feel "close to history," while acknowledging the worry caused by the river's state. 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.

“

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