Severe drought is drying up rivers across Europe, revealing stones carved centuries ago that warn future generations of hard times ahead.
The Miami Herald Reported that last week old boulders, known for centuries as "hunger stones" reappeared as rivers in Europe dried up due to drought.
One such stone is found on the banks of the Elbe River, which starts in the Czech Republic and runs through Germany. The boulder dates from 1616 and is inscribed with a warning in German: “Wenn du mich seehst, dann weine” meaning “If you see me, then weep”.
In a study by 2013 (PDF), a group of Czech researchers wrote that these boulders are "carved with years of hardship and the initials of writers lost to history," adding that "the key inscriptions warn of the consequences of drought."
"They report that the drought had brought poor harvests, food shortages, high prices and hunger among the poor," the researchers write.
"Prior to 1900, the following droughts are commemorated on the same stone: 1417, 1616, 1707, 1746, 1790, 1800, 1811, 1830, 1842, 1868, 1893 and 189."
These “hydrological landmarks” were last seen during a 2018 drought, Reported the NPR.
However, the current drought Europe is experiencing could be the worst in 500 years, according to Andrea Toreti, senior researcher at the European Commission's Joint Research Centre.
