Hungersteine -> "hunger stones" hydrologic markers of famine

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As drought conditions in Europe intensify, historically significant "hunger stones" have emerged from the receding waters of rivers, revealing inscriptions that warn of past hardships. One notable stone, dating back to 1616, bears the message "If you see me, then cry," reflecting the dire consequences of drought such as poor harvests, food scarcity, and starvation. Research indicates that these stones, which document periods of drought and hardship over the centuries, serve as a stark reminder of the challenges faced during times of water scarcity. The inscriptions highlight significant drought years, including 1417, 1616, and several others leading up to the 19th century, emphasizing the long-standing impact of climate variability on agriculture and society.
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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"

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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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