by Lis Haddad
The stones contain markings made by residents in the past, in other periods of drought, and would serve as a warning of the risks of lack of water. One of these stones can be found in the river Elbe, which runs from the mountains of the Czech Republic, passes through Germany and empties into the North Sea. It bears a drought record from 1616 associated with the following notice: “Wenn du mich siehst, dann weine”, or “If you see me, cry”. “Hunger stones” like this were used as “hydrological landmarks” in central Europe.