Writing Story Competition 113

Digital art made by @xpilar

Archaeological excavations in the jungles of the Amazon are extremely difficult. Heat, moisture, mosquitoes, predators, all this gives archaeologists neither strength nor inspiration. But at the same time, these jungles continue to interest scientists. Vegetation, which grows very intensively, quickly hides the traces of civilization. Therefore, here you can find very interesting finds, which for centuries have not been touched by human hands.

This time the research brought scientists here. But what exactly are they looking for? Only trees and trees around, and behind them more trees. The only object that differs from the solid jungle here is a hill covered with palm trees. This is where scientists decided to spend the night.

Here they pitched tents, lit a fire, and set out to prepare dinner. After a hard hike it was very nice to finally sit down, take a breath, give rest to a tired body. Fatigue did not even allow the researchers to make a plan of action for tomorrow, after dinner everyone immediately fell fast asleep.

In the morning, scientists went to the top of the hill. They hoped that it would offer a view of the surrounding jungle, and from a height they will finally be able to determine exactly where the ruins of the ancient city. However, they were disappointed. Nothing around caught their attention. Everywhere only the jungle and the river.

Scientists were disappointed. Out of frustration, they did not even have the strength to travel further. Uncertainty hovered in the air. Nobody knew what to do next.

While most looked at each other in confusion, the young archaeologist took a magnetic scanner from his backpack. He really wanted to try out his new device. He knew that archeological sites changed the Earth's magnetic field. His scanner had to register the slightest changes in the magnetic field, and the laptop, thanks to special software, had to draw the contours of what is underground.

After setting up the equipment, the young archaeologist began to take measurements just at the site of their tents. Then he climbed to the top of the hill. After an hour or two of active work, he sat down at his laptop. Nobody paid attention to his work, thinking that the young man would have fun.

But suddenly he called everyone to come to the laptop screen. When everyone gathered, the young scientist turned the laptop over and everyone froze in surprise. It turns out that they were not standing on a simple hill, but on top of an ancient temple, which was hidden for hundreds of years under the ground.