Hungersteine -> "hunger stones" hydrologic markers of famine

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on "hunger stones," hydrologic markers that reveal historical drought warnings as water levels in European rivers decline. These stones, dating back to 1616, feature inscriptions in German, such as "If you see me, then cry," which serve as reminders of past famines caused by drought. A 2013 study highlights that these stones document periods of hardship, including years of poor harvests and starvation, with notable years such as 1417, 1616, and 1746. The ongoing drought in Europe has brought these historical warnings back into public consciousness.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of hydrology and its impact on agriculture
  • Knowledge of historical climate patterns in Europe
  • Familiarity with the significance of cultural artifacts in environmental history
  • Basic comprehension of German language inscriptions
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  • Research the historical context of droughts in Europe, focusing on the years documented by hunger stones
  • Explore the impact of climate change on current and future water levels in European rivers
  • Investigate the role of cultural heritage in environmental awareness and climate action
  • Study the methods used in hydrology to predict drought conditions and their effects on agriculture
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This discussion is beneficial for historians, environmental scientists, climate activists, and anyone interested in the intersection of climate change and cultural heritage.

jim mcnamara
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TL;DR
European stone carvings with warnings of famine and death from the 1400's due to severe drought. They are now visible again due to very low water levels.
"
Carved into the side of a rock, the phrase emerged as water levels continue to drop in one European river, and the five-word translation delivers a warning from ancestors of what’s to come.

-- Allison Finch, AccuWeather staff writer
Published Aug. 15, 2022 12:08 PM MDT | Updated Aug. 15, 2022 3:54 PM MDT

As Europe's drought continues to worsen, the water levels in rivers have dropped significantly, revealing chilling warning messages from more than 500 years ago"

Commentary:
https://arstechnica.com/science/202...eft-out-context-original-story-was-from-2018/
 
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The stone dates from 1616 and bears a warning in German: "If you see me, then cry".

In a 2013 study, a Czech team of researchers wrote that these boulders bear "carved the years of hardship and the initials of authors lost to history," adding that the "inscriptions survived the effects of the drought to warn".

"They expressed that the drought had brought poor harvests, lack of food, high prices, and starvation for the poor," the researchers wrote. "Before 1900, the stone commemorates the following periods of drought: 1417, 1616, 1707, 1746, 1790, 1800, 1811, 1830, 1842, 1868, 1892 and 1893."

https://www.businessinsider.de/wirt...e-hungersteine-freigelegt-die-vor-not-warnen/
 
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