Hunger Stones: Carved in stone: What are these warning signs that Europe’s drought has revealed

Source: The post is based on the article “Carved in stone: What are these warning signs that Europe’s drought has revealed” published in Down To Earth on 18th August 2022.

What is the News?

Europe is suffering from the worst drought in half a millennium. Rivers have dried up so much that ‘hunger stones’ have been revealed and have gone viral on social media.

What are Hunger Stones?

Hunger stones or hungersteine in German are a common hydrological marker in central Europe. They date back to the pre-instrumental era.

These stones were embedded into rivers by ancestors when rivers were subdued to severe levels subsequently causing famine and food shortages.

Many of the hunger stones found have unique carvings on them that seek to remind the next generation that if water levels get to this point, food availability will be affected.

One famous carving example is in the Elbe river in Děčín, Czech Republic which says “Wenn du mich siehst, dann weine” (“If you see me, weep”).