Current:Home > FinanceSevere drought in the Amazon reveals millennia-old carvings -InvestTomorrow
Severe drought in the Amazon reveals millennia-old carvings
View
Date:2025-04-18 16:46:31
MANAUS (AP) — The Negro River, the major tributary that runs through the Brazilian Amazon, has reached historic lows, revealing millennia-old carvings previously hidden under water.
The engravings deeply etched into the black rock along the riverbanks represent human faces, animals and other figures, and are thought to be 1,000 to 2,000 years old, archaeologists said.
“They allow us to understand the way of life of prehistoric populations,” Jaime de Santana Oliveira, an archaeologist with Brazil’s National Historic and Artistic Heritage Institute, said.
The scientists think other rocks at the site were used to sharpen arrows and stone tools.
The Ponto das Lajes archaeological site is located in the rural area of Manaus, the largest city and capital of Amazonas state. From there, locals and tourists can observe the “Meeting of Waters,” which occurs when the dark, Coca-Cola-colored Negro River and the pale, clay-colored Solimoes River converge without merging and run parallel to each other over several miles.
The petroglyphs first were spotted in 2010, when another bad drought struck the region, but had not been observable since then before the current drought.
Low river levels in Amazonas have turned once navigable rivers into endless sand banks and mud, leaving hundreds of communities isolated. Public authorities have scrambled to get food and water to those communities in recent weeks.
Earlier this week, The Associated Press observed the delivery of basic goods. Boats had to dock miles away, forcing residents, most of them small farmers and fishermen, to walk long distances.
Manaus and other nearby cities are experiencing high temperatures and heavy smoke from fires set for deforestation and pasture clearance. The drought is also the likely cause of dozens of river dolphin deaths in Tefe Lake, near the Amazon River.
Dry spells are part of the Amazon’s cyclical weather pattern, usually from May to October. This season’s drought has been fiercer than usual due to two climate phenomena: the warming of northern tropical Atlantic Ocean waters and El Niño — the warming of surface waters in the Equatorial Pacific region.
___
Follow AP’s climate coverage at https://apnews.com/climate-and-environment
veryGood! (2885)
Related
- Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
- Charlize Theron Shares Rare Video of Her Daughters Attending Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour
- Ex-Georgia man sought in alleged misuse of millions of Christian ministry donations
- Michigan mom is charged with buying guns for son who threatened top Democrats, prosecutors say
- 'As foretold in the prophecy': Elon Musk and internet react as Tesla stock hits $420 all
- Getting clear prices for hospital care could get easier under a proposed rule
- Lawsuit says Tennessee’s US House and state Senate maps discriminate against communities of color
- Zoom's terms of service changes spark worries over AI uses. Here's what to know.
- Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time
- Bill Maher Ken-not with Barbie fighting the patriarchy: 'This movie is so 2000-LATE'
Ranking
- Hackers hit Rhode Island benefits system in major cyberattack. Personal data could be released soon
- Biden wants to compensate New Mexico residents sickened by radiation during 1945 nuclear testing
- Average long-term US mortgage rate climbs to 6.96% this week, matching highest level this year
- U.S. closes Haiti embassy amid rapid gunfire after Haitians march to demand security
- Who's hosting 'Saturday Night Live' tonight? Musical guest, how to watch Dec. 14 episode
- Special counsel got a search warrant for Twitter to turn over info on Trump’s account, documents say
- You Need to Hear Johnny Bananas' Pitch for a Reality Dating Show With CT Tamburello
- A Taylor Swift fan saw the Eras Tour from her Southwest flight – sort of
Recommendation
Man can't find second winning lottery ticket, sues over $394 million jackpot, lawsuit says
Why some foods take longer than others to digest
How did the Maui fire start? What we know about the cause of the Lahaina blaze
Federal trial to decide whether ex-chief of staff lied to protect his boss, Illinois House speaker
The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
Journalists seek regulations to govern fast-moving artificial intelligence technology
Hurricane-fueled wildfires have killed at least 36 people in Maui
You Need to Hear Johnny Bananas' Pitch for a Reality Dating Show With CT Tamburello