Volunteers scan dried Danube banks in Bulgaria for mammoth fossils

Record‑low water levels in the Danube have exposed the riverbank in northern Bulgaria, prompting a small field expedition. About twenty volunteers, organized by the Regional Museum of History of Ruse, are combing the newly revealed shoreline in the hope of uncovering additional fossils or artifacts. The effort follows the discovery of mammoth bones in July, which were exposed as the river receded.

The museum’s initiative comes amid a severe drought that has lowered the Danube’s flow to its lowest levels in decades. As the water withdraws, paleontologists and amateur diggers alike are drawn to the exposed strata, where the sedimentary layers may hold further evidence of the region’s prehistoric fauna. The volunteers are equipped with basic excavation tools and are working under the guidance of museum staff to ensure that any finds are documented and preserved according to scientific standards.

If the search proves fruitful, the new specimens could expand knowledge of the area’s ancient ecosystem and add to the museum’s growing collection. Regardless of the outcome, the operation highlights the broader impact of climate‑induced water shortages on archaeological and paleontological research across Europe.