The photo above shows the boulders knowns as the “cow," left, and the “bull” on top a 50-foot cliff on the Bahamian Island of Eleuthera. Researchers believe the placement of the rocks serves as an ancient lesson about rising sea levels.

(Alessio Rovere, MARUM and ZMT)

Massive boulders sitting on a 50-foot cliff have long been a tourist attraction for one Bahamian island. But a recent study suggests the large rocks serve as an ancient lesson about rising seas.

Known as the “Cow” and the “Bull,” the boulders are located on Eleuthera and, according to a release on the study.

It’s highly unlikely the rocks were rolled to the top of the cliff. The cow weighs 383 tons and the bull weighs 925 tons, states the release. Additionally, there’s no higher peak from which they could have fallen.

The researchers believe the Atlantic Ocean played a role in their movement, and that a storm considered strong by modern standards could have pushed them around.

“While the megaboulders of Eleuthera cannot be used as geologic proof for past ‘superstorms,’ they do show that with rising sea levels, , even without changes in storm intensity,” wrote the researchers.

(MORE: )

They used models to simulate the impact a superstorm would have had on the rocks, as well as the effect of a strong storm by today’s standards, according to the study. They simulated the conditions of Hurricanes Andrew and Sandy and the “Perfect Storm” of 1991.

“Our results indicate that a superstorm was not necessary to explain the present positions of the two boulders,” study co-author and University of Bremen and Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research scientist Alessio Rovere said in the release. “Even if we assume a sea level only six meters higher than that of today, waves such as those produced by Hurricane Sandy would have been sufficient to transport the boulders “cow” and “bull” to their present positions.”

Their findings highlight the possibility of seas to rise again in the future and show the destructive force of oceans against modern-day structures.

Climate scientist James Hansen, who contributed to prior research suggesting the boulders were moved by a superstorm, told The Washington Post that he fears the , throwing off the circulation of water in oceans and possibly triggering numerous other issues.

Melting of these ice sheets would also contribute to rising sea levels, which are expected to , according to a previous report.

While the cause behind the boulders’ movement remains uncertain, most researchers appear to believe sea rise played a role, and that the risk of damaging ocean waves is very real.

“If you raise sea level, you will have more energy on cliff and coastal barriers,” Rovere told The Post. “That’s the real problem we will have to deal with if sea level keeps rising.”