Unusually low water levels on Hungary’s Tisza River have exposed centuries-old wooden bridge remains near the city of Szolnok far earlier than expected, raising concerns among archaeologists that the historic structures could begin to deteriorate beyond repair.
The darkened oak piles, some dating back nearly 500 years, have become visible in mid-May — a phenomenon that until recently was normally associated with the drought-stricken weeks of late summer. Experts say the early appearance of the remains is another sign of changing river conditions and prolonged low water levels affecting the Tisza.
The exposed piles are believed to belong to several former wooden bridges built between the 16th and 20th centuries, including crossings constructed during the Ottoman occupation of Hungary. For local residents, the sight offers a rare glimpse into the region’s past. For conservation specialists, however, it signals a growing crisis.
According to Róbert Kertész of the Damjanich János Museum, the situation has gradually worsened over the last two decades.
“When these piles first became permanently visible in 2003, it was considered unusual,” Kertész explained. “Today, it has become almost routine.”
The archaeologist warned that the wooden structures survived for centuries because they remained submerged beneath the riverbed, protected from oxygen and extreme temperature changes. Once exposed to open air, the ancient oak begins to dry out rapidly.
That process leads to cracking, deformation, and eventually rot.
“The longer the wood remains dry, the faster the destruction becomes,” Kertész said.
Researchers have already documented visible damage over recent years. Sections repeatedly exposed above the waterline have started to split apart, while portions still underwater remain relatively stable and intact. The contrast has provided clear evidence of how vulnerable the remains are once natural protection disappears.
This year’s conditions are especially worrying because experts do not expect the seasonal “green flood wave” that normally raises water levels in spring and early summer. Without that temporary rise, the piles could remain exposed for extended periods during the hottest months of the year.
The remains currently visible in the river are linked to four separate wooden bridge structures that once crossed the Tisza at Szolnok. Some are believed to date back to the Ottoman era of the 16th and 17th centuries, when the strategically important town served as a key military and transport hub.
The exposed timber has also become an attraction for visitors gathering along the riverbank. Residents and tourists have been photographing the remains and examining the ancient piles at close range, fascinated by physical traces of history emerging directly from the riverbed.
Archaeologists say such direct contact with the past is increasingly rare. Few visible historical monuments connected to the early modern history of Szolnok survive above ground today.
Preserving the timber remains, however, would require a highly specialised and expensive conservation programme. Experts say the wood would need to be carefully removed from the river, transferred into controlled underwater storage, and treated over many years to stabilise its structure.
“There are currently no financial resources available for such a project,” Kertész said.
Previous attempts to preserve some of the recovered wood involved soaking selected pieces in a sugar-based solution designed to strengthen weakened fibres and prevent collapse during drying. The method showed promise, but the programme was eventually halted because of funding shortages and difficulties obtaining the necessary materials.
The situation along the Tisza highlights a broader challenge facing archaeologists and conservationists across Europe, where changing climate conditions and prolonged drought periods are exposing fragile archaeological sites that were once naturally protected underwater.
For now, the piles emerging from the Tisza remain both a striking historical sight and a warning about what may soon be lost. What survived wars, floods, and centuries beneath the riverbed may now face destruction simply from exposure to air and sunlight.
Header Image Credit : Angéla Major
Sources : SAY