Severe heatwaves in Bulgaria reveal ancient Rome's Constantine Bridge hidden under Danube's waters

Severe heatwaves across Europe have drastically lowered water levels in the Danube River, revealing the submerged foundations of the ancient Constantine Bridge near Gigen, Bulgaria. This rare exposure offers archaeologists a valuable chance to study one of the Roman Empire's most significant engineering achievements.

The bridge, commissioned by Emperor Constantine I and inaugurated in 328 CE, once spanned over 1.2 miles, connecting the ancient cities of Ulpia Oescus and Sucidava. It is considered one of antiquity's longest bridges, though it was largely destroyed around 367 CE. Pavel Popov of the Regional Historical Museum in Pleven described these moments as "extremely valuable" for nature to "briefly reveal an object that is hidden beneath the Danube for most of the time."

Archaeologists are utilizing drones to meticulously map and photograph the exposed remains, assessing their condition and tracing the bridge's original line. This discovery comes amid a broader trend of receding water levels across Europe's major waterways, including the Rhine, which have uncovered various historical artifacts and remnants.

Beyond the Constantine Bridge, the Danube's low waters have also brought other historical finds to light. Near the Serbian port of Prahovo, dozens of German battleships sunk during World War II have emerged from the riverbed. In Budapest, Hungary, the skeletal remains of two Nazi soldiers were found alongside a World War II motorcycle on the riverbank.

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For archaeologists, these moments are extremely valuable because nature briefly reveals an object that is hidden beneath the Danube for most of the time. It gives us a rare opportunity to observe, document and study it in its real environment.