Europe's rivers expose historical ‘hunger stones’ due to drought

Low water levels in European rivers are exposing historical artifacts known as ‘hunger stones’ (Hungerstein). These boulders, typically submerged, feature inscriptions and dates from past periods of extreme drought, such as 1616, 1746, and 1842.

One notable example is located in the Elbe River near Děčín, Czechia, close to the German border. This stone bears a German inscription: ‘Wenn du mich siehst, dann weine’ (‘If you see me, then weep’). These markers served as somber reminders of past famines and economic hardships caused by low water levels, which historically disrupted trade routes used by barges carrying essential goods like grain and timber.

Beyond these stones, receding waters have also revealed other historical remnants, including shipwrecks from the Nazi era, unexploded World War II bombs, and prehistoric mammoth remains.