‘Hunger Stones’ With Ominous Messages Emerge in Drought-Parched Czech River
The stones recorded low water levels dating back to the 1600s and warn of impending hardships
By Brigit Katz
August 24, 2018
Throughout the summer, unusually hot and dry weather in Europe has revealed a slew of archaeological treasures, from a prehistoric henge in Ireland, to an ornate 17th century garden in England, to a lost German village once submerged underwater. The most recent relic to surface amid the drought is a stark reminder that Europeans have long been afflicted by parched, damaging conditions. As the Associated Press reports, “hunger stones†warning of drought-induced hardships have started surfacing in the Czech Republic.
More than a dozen of the stones have been found in and near the town of Decin, which is crossed by the Elbe River. Due to scorching temperatures, the water in the river has dropped, revealing boulders that were once used to record low water levels. The rocks are etched with dates, and the earliest one currently visible is 1616.
Read more:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/hunger-stones-emerge-drought-parched-czech-river-180970130/#psz1mvbjjAtHcPYd.99
