Exceptionally low water levels on the Danube have exposed parts of the foundations of the ancient Constantine Bridge, giving Bulgarian archaeologists a rare opportunity to document what they describe as one of the Roman Empire's most impressive engineering achievements.
A succession of record-breaking heatwaves in Europe this summer has caused a severe drought in parts of the continent, affecting major waterways such as the Danube and the Rhine.
"For archaeologists, these moments are extremely valuable because nature briefly reveals an object that is hidden beneath the Danube for most of the time," said Pavel Popov of the Regional Historical Museum in Pleven. "It gives us a rare opportunity to observe, document and study it in its real environment."
The bridge, commissioned by Emperor Constantine I and inaugurated in 328 CE, linked the ancient city of Ulpia Oescus with Sucidava in what is now Romania. Stretching more than two km (1.2 miles), it is regarded as one of the longest bridges of antiquity, though short-lived. It is believed to have been largely destroyed around 367 CE.
A team from the Pleven museum carried out aerial photography and documentation of visible bridge remains, close to the village of Gigen in northern Bulgaria.
Researchers used drones to map and photograph the exposed remains, tracing the line of visible foundations and assessing their condition.
The Danube's water levels have been receding all across Europe, revealing finds from as far back as the Ice Age.
Near the Serbian port of Prahovo, the Danube’s receding water levels have revealed dozens of German battleships sunken during World War II.
At least 20 warships can be seen emerging from the Danube, according to CBS News, adding that they are believed to have belonged to Nazi Germany’s Black Sea fleet, sunken by the German’s during their retreat from Romania near the end of the war.
Remains of two Nazi soldiers found in Budapest
On the riverbank near Batthyány Square in Budapest, the German War Graves Commission (Volksbund) announced last week that the skeletal remains of two Nazi soldiers had been found alongside a World War II DKW NZ 350-1 motorcycle.
The dog tags of both soldiers are complete, Volksbund noted, explaining that this likely meant the two soldiers had been declared missing as no offical notice of their deaths had been recorded at the time.
The two are expected to be buried in the Budaörs German Soldiers Cemetery outside of Budapest.
Ice Age mammoth remains unearthed in Bulgaria
Two weeks ago, the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) reported that the remains of the ancient mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) were found in northern Bulgaria after Danube's water levels receded to a record low.
The animal's remains were found by a local resident of the Ryahovo village, who noticed the unusual find on the river bed. Villagers then alerted specialists in the Regional History Museum in the nearby town of Ruse.
Ryahovo Mayor Hristina Ivanova shared with BTA that the area was particularly interesting from a historical perspective, and that over the years, “various finds have been discovered here, including animal remains, vessels and other objects.”
Miriam Sela-Eitam contributed to this report.