Some of the drawings were already visible during the previous drought, but many other petroglyphs remained underwater.
The discovery was made in the city of Manaus, northern Brazil. The drawings are located along the stretch of coast known as Ponta das Lajes. There the Rio Negro and Solimoes rivers flow into the Amazon region.
According to archaeologist Jaime Oliveira, the petroglyphs were carved by people who lived in the area in pre-Columbian times. “This area is a pre-colonial place and has traces of habitation dating back about one to two thousand years,” he told local media.
“What we see here are images of anthropomorphic shapes,” Oliveira said. In such a case, human qualities are attributed to non-human beings or things.
Drought in Brazil reveals ancient rock paintings
Water levels are very low
Another rock contains grooves that researchers believe indigenous people in the area used to sharpen their arrows.
Some drawings were seen as early as 2010. Then the water level in the Rio Negro dropped to 13.63 metres. On Sunday, the level dropped below 13 meters for the first time. On Monday, the river level reached 12.89 metres.
According to the Brazilian government, the severe drought in Brazil is due to climate change and the El Niño weather phenomenon.
“Infuriatingly humble social media buff. Twitter advocate. Writer. Internet nerd.”