Dozens of images of human faces are scattered along the rocky banks of the Amazon River near the city of Manaus. These carvings have come to light due to a severe drought that has caused the river’s water level to drop to a record low not seen in 121 years. In just the past week, the water level has fallen by 43 feet.
Rare Art Hidden Beneath the Waters
The site where ancient artists left their creations is called Ponta-das-Lajes. It is located on the northern bank of the Amazon, where the Rio Negro and Solimões rivers converge.
The last time these mysterious carvings were revealed to local residents and archaeologists was in 2010, during a similar drop in water levels in the region. Since then, experts have yet to reach a consensus on who created these images and for what purpose.
The ancient creators gave the faces a variety of forms and emotions. Among the carved images are several that slightly protrude from the stone surface. Modern art historians would refer to them as bas-reliefs.
A Manaus resident, Lívia Ribeiro, who has lived in the city for 27 years, told archaeologists that she had heard a lot about these images from people. However, she wasn’t convinced of their existence until she saw the rare art for herself.
The rocky banks of the Amazon River near the city of Manaus
Archaeologist Jaime de Santana Oliveira from the Brazilian Institute of Historical Heritage reported that the current drought has exposed even more anthropomorphic images than before. While the researcher cannot yet pinpoint which pre-Columbian culture these works belong to, they may date back around two thousand years.
Alongside the carved faces, archaeologists found a stone with grooves. These could have been left by ancient local hunters or warriors sharpening their arrows, according to IFLscience.
Rock Art – Harbingers of Irreversible Climate Change
This year’s drought in the Brazilian Amazon has already led to catastrophic consequences. By the end of September, over 120 freshwater dolphins died due to extremely high water temperatures. The situation has worsened due to El Niño, which has caused rainfall levels in the tropical forests to fall significantly below historical averages.
Experts predict that global warming will lead to more frequent droughts in the Amazon, just as it will in much of the world. Thus, the discovered rock relics may serve as harbingers of future irreversible changes related to climate change.
“We come, we look at the images, and we think they are beautiful,” said Lívia Ribeiro. But at the same time, she worries whether this river will exist in 50 or 100 years.