The Amazon, in recent years, has faced a series of climate problems. Among them droughts and the drop in the levels of their bodies of water. It is a serious problem. But it brought an unexpected discovery: the faces carved under the Amazon that appeared when the waters receded.
This happened where the Rio Negro flows into the Amazon, near the city of Manaus in northern Brazil. Previously, other carved faces with similar features appeared. And it was for the same reasons.
expressive faces
«In 2010, carvings were discovered at this particular site. Although they had already been registered, they have now reappeared. They have been further identified. This thanks to the worsening of the drought,” mentioned historian Beatriz Carneiro.
According to AFP, it is estimated that these dozens of discovered faces are approximately two thousand years old. They all show similarities and someone recorded them relatively simply. They do not present the same level of detail as other ancient finds.
However, its simple details allowed us to speculate about its use and get closer to the pre-Columbian lifestyle of the area. You can appreciate its straight or circular strokes, as well as the expressionless engraved faces. Additionally, the stones have grooves that would indicate that someone used them to sharpen weapons.
«The faces have great archaeological relevance. The site expresses emotions, feelings. Although it is a record engraved in rock, it has something in common with contemporary art. This was said by archaeologist Jaime Oliveira for the Brazilian Institute of Historical Heritage.
This is a symptom of a climate problem. «We arrived, looked at the engravings and thought they were beautiful. But at the same time, it is worrying. I also think about whether this river will exist in 50 or 100 years,” mentioned Livia Ribeiro, a local from the area.
Drought
Experts attribute the change in climatic conditions to El Niño. It is a phenomenon in the tropical Pacific Ocean that causes above-average temperatures on the sea surface.
The drought in the Amazon caused water levels to reach their lowest point in 121 years. This is especially problematic. Many communities near bodies of water depend on them. What the faces carved under the Amazon see now, when they come to light, is a terrible drought. What will you see in the future?
