Drying rivers reveal warnings from the past-"Hunger Stones"

[Boxerfan]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunger_stone
A hunger stone (German: Hungerstein) is a type of hydrological landmark common in Central Europe. Hunger stones serve as famine memorials and warnings and were erected in Germany and in ethnic German settlements throughout Europe in the 15th through 19th centuries.

These stones were embedded into a river during droughts to mark the water level as a warning to future generations that they will have to endure famine-related hardships if the water sinks to this level again. One famous example in the Elbe river in Děčín, Czech Republic, has "Wenn du mich siehst, dann weine" (lit. "If you see me, weep&quot carved into it as a warning.[1]

Many of these stones, featuring carvings or other artwork, were erected following the hunger crisis of 1816–1817 caused by the eruptions of the Tambora volcano.[2]


------------

An etching from Elbe river in Děčín, Czech Republic


"If you see me Weep".

[Talitha]

1. Thank you for posting this!

I never heard of the stones before... they're a real eye-opener.

[meadowlander]

2. Thanks for posting this. Reminds me of the cubits of death on the Nile.

[Duppers]

3. K & R

[Emile]

4. Interesting, never heard about these stones.

[BlackSkimmer]

5. Interesting stuff!

Thanks for posting.

[TheBeam19]

6. Really interesting. Thanks for posting.