NASA expected their return in February 2025; however, the agency said there had been a delay in launching their replacements
space33 minutes ago
A brutal summer has caused havoc for many in rural Spain, but one unexpected side-effect of the country's worst drought in decades has delighted archaeologists — the emergence of a prehistoric stone circle, in a dam whose waterline has receded.
Officially known as the Dolmen of Guadalperal but dubbed the 'Spanish Stonehenge', the circle of dozens of megalithic stones is believed to date back to 5000 BC.
It currently sits fully exposed in one corner of the Valdecanas reservoir, in the central province of Caceres, where authorities say the water level has dropped to 28 per cent capacity.
"It's a surprise; it's a rare opportunity to be able to access it," said archaeologist Enrique Cedillo from Madrid's Complutense University, one of the experts racing to study the circle before it gets submerged again.
It was discovered by German archaeologist Hugo Obermaier in 1926, but the area was flooded in 1963 in a rural development project under Francisco Franco's dictatorship.
Since then, it has only become fully visible four times.
Dolmens are vertically arranged stones usually supporting a flat boulder. Although there are many scattered across Western Europe, little is known about who erected them. Human remains found in (or near) many, have led to an often-cited theory that they are tombs.
Local historical and tourism associations have advocated moving the Guadalperal stones to a museum, or elsewhere on dry land.
Their presence is also good news for Ruben Argentas, who owns a small boat tours business.
"The dolmen emerges and the dolmen tourism begins," he told Reuters after a busy day spent shuttling tourists to the site and back.
However, there is no silver lining for local farmers.
"There hasn't been enough rain since the spring ... There is no water for the livestock and we have to transport it in," said Jose Manuel Comendador. Another farmer, Rufino Guinea, said that his sweet pepper crop had been ravaged.
Climate change has left the Iberian peninsula at its driest in 1,200 years, and winter rains are expected to diminish further, a study published by the Nature Geoscience journal showed.
ALSO READ:
NASA expected their return in February 2025; however, the agency said there had been a delay in launching their replacements
space33 minutes ago
The stars may compete for your attention
entertainment39 minutes ago
Manufacturers’ expectations for output over the coming three months dropped to -31
economy40 minutes ago
The festival will also be marking over 50 years of diplomatic relations between the UAE and Japan
entertainment48 minutes ago
The complaint calls for the implementation of the so-called Leahy Law, which the plaintiffs and rights group say Israel has been illegally exempted from
world52 minutes ago
The bill, already approved in parliament but not yet submitted to the government for final confirmation, has stirred a heated debate in Iran
world1 hour ago
As per authorities, the accident tends to happen more during the winter months, when families keep their windows open or sit outside in the balcony to enjoy the cool weather
uae1 hour ago
This round adds to the $2.3 million the firm raised in seed funding last year
business1 hour ago