‘Hunger Stones’ Alongside Ominous Messages Emerge Inward Drought-Parched Czech River

From Smithsonian Magazine, August 24:

The stones recorded depression H2O levels dating dorsum to the 1600s together with warn of impending hardships

Engravings on a ‘hunger stone’ convey been revealed inwards the Elbe River inwards the Czechia due to drought. (AP Images)

Throughout the summer, unusually hot together with dry out conditions inwards Europe has revealed a slew of archaeological treasures, from a prehistoric henge inwards Ireland, to an ornate 17th century garden inwards England, to a lost High German village 1 time submerged underwater. The around recent relic to surface amid the drought is a stark reminder that Europeans convey long been afflicted past times parched, damaging conditions. As the Associated Press reports, “hunger stones” alert of drought-induced hardships convey started surfacing inwards the Czech Republic.

More than a dozen of the stones convey been constitute inwards together with close the town of Decin, which is crossed past times the Elbe River. Due to scorching temperatures, the H2O inwards the river has dropped, revealing boulders that were 1 time used to tape depression H2O levels. The rocks are etched amongst dates, together with the earliest 1 currently visible is 1616.

But hunger stones did to a greater extent than than but document drought: They every bit good lamented hard conditions together with allow people know that problem was afoot. One of the rocks, for instance, “expressed that drought had brought a bad harvest, lack of food, high prices together with hunger for piteous people,” according to a 2013 study of drought inwards Czech lands. H5N1 High German inscription on the same stone reads: “When y'all encounter me, weep.”

This item hunger stone has decease a well-known tourist attraction inwards the Czech Republic, according to NPR’s Camila Domonoske. It is amid the oldest hydrological landmarks inwards Central Europe and, due to a dam that was built on a tributary of the Elbe inwards 1926, the stone tin hold out seen around 126 days each year. But the depression H2O levels inwards the Elbe today are all the same “exceptional,” Domonoske writes. Earlier this month, the Local reported that the river had reached its lowest levels inwards to a greater extent than than one-half a century....MORE

HT: Metafilter's "Wenn du mich siehst, dann weine".

(if y'all encounter me, together with therefore cry)