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Ancient engravings featuring strange depictions of human faces have been unveiled thanks to a drought in the Amazon rainforest.
The etchings – thought to be up to 2,000 years old – been found on the riverbed where the Rio Negro and the Amazon meet, near Manaus, Brazil. As well as what appear to be human faces, the artworks depict water and animals.
It’s usual for historical scribblings like these to disappear underwater forever. This is only the second time the engravings Brazil have been witnessed in recent times, reports Ancient Origins.
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The only other time these particular ones have been seen in modern times was in 2010 – and that was for just one day. Now, with water levels at their lowest in more than a century, they’ve seen the light of day once again.
Experts were particularly taken with the rather unusual depictions of human heads. The slightly square visages, crafted with axes, all have mouths – but some are missing noses.
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Jaime Oliveira of the Brazilian Institute of Historical Heritage said they pictures are "complex graphic art" and convey "both happiness and sadness." One theory is that the varying happy and sad expressions represented predators and prey.
It’s believed the carvings were made in a place where people used to live. Oliveira said ancient Amazonians endured periods of drought "more severe than what we are experiencing now."
Although scientists are gravely concerned about the ongoing weird weather patterns around the world, the drought might yet reveal more treats from history as more riverbeds give up their secrets.
Water levels are expected to rise in the Rio Negro next month, so there’s a race against the clock for experts to completely document the etchings – called “petroglyphs” – before they disappear under the waves again.
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