Hunger stone

File:Hungerstein in Decin (21).JPG

A hunger stone at the Elbe river in Děčín, Czech Republic

A hunger stone (German: Hungerstein) is a type of hydrological landmark common in Central Europe. Hunger stones serve as famine memorials and warnings and were erected in Germany and in ethnic German settlements throughout Europe in the 15th through 19th centuries.

These stones were carved into stones in a river during droughts to mark the water level as a warning to future generations that they will have to endure famine-related hardships if the water sinks to this level again. One famous example in the Elbe river in Děčín, Czech Republic, has "Wenn du mich siehst, dann weine" ("If you see me, weep") carved into it as a warning.

Many of these stones, featuring carvings or other artwork, were erected following the hunger crisis of 1816–1817 caused by the eruptions of the Tambora volcano.

In 1918, a hunger stone on the bed of the Elbe River, near Děčín, became exposed during a period of low water coincident with the wartime famines of World War I. Similar hunger stones in the river were uncovered again during droughts in 2018 and in 2022.

Known hunger stones

River	Location	Notes	Picture
Danube	Budapest, right (Buda) riverside at the foot of the Gellért Hill, very close to Szabadság híd	A small stone, Ínség-szikla/kő (English: Famine/Hunger cliff/stone) in the Danube, which is visible at water levels below 95 cm. The stone is located 95.75 metres above sea level. This is the last such remaining stone in the vicinity, the other ones were demolished when the river bank path was built between 1898 and 1899	Ínség-szikla
Elbe	Děčín (Tetschen) left riverbank, near the Tyrs bridge	The stone measures approximately 6 m³ and is carved with different years of drought. The oldest readable carving is from 1616, with older carvings (1417 and 1473) having been wiped out by anchoring ships during the years. The stone also features the Czech sentence „Neplač holka, nenaříkej, když je sucho, pole stříkej“ (lit. "Girl, don't weep and moan, if it's dry, water the field"), probably added in 1938. This hunger stone is one of the oldest hydrological landmarks in the Elbe river.	Hungerstein in Děčín
Elbe	Těchlovice nad Labem near Děčín	Stone with the number 1666 (Roman: MDCLXVI)
Elbe	Těchlovice near Děčín	Stone with multiple years: 1892, 1903, 1904, 1911, 1928, 1963, 2015 etc.	Hungerstein in Techlovice
Elbe	Dolní Žleb, part of Děčín	Approximately ten stones with the years 1842, 1868, 1892, 1904, 2015	Hungerstein in Niedergrund
Elbe	Schmilka, near the border crossing
Elbe	Prossen, beneath former train conductor's house	Five years between 1928 and 2015 are carved on a skewed stone plate
Elbe	Königstein, near the village	Year 1681
Elbe	Königstein, left riverbank near the Biela river	Years 1952, 2003, 2015	Hungerstein in Königstein
Elbe	Stadt Wehlen, district of Pötzscha	Year 1868	Wehlener Hungerstein im Ortsteil Pötzscha
Elbe	Pirna, district Oberposta, right riverbank	According to the city archives, a stone with the year 1115 existed but its location is no longer known. Near Oberposta there is a stone with more than fifteen years between 1707 and 2015 carved into it	Hungerstein in Pirna
Elbe	Dresden-Pillnitz, near the stairs of Pillnitz Castle's western sphinx	Years: 1778, 1893, 1904, 2003, 2018.	Hungerstein in Pillnitz
Elbe	Dresden-Laubegast	Years: 1893, 1899, 2003, 2015.	Hungersteine in Laubegast
Elbe	Dresden-Tolkewitz, near Tolkewitzer Street 73	Year: 2016.	Tolkewitzer Hungerstein
Elbe	Dresden-Blasewitz	2 by 2 meter stone near kilometer 48.7 with years: 1930, 1943, 1947, 1950, 1963 etc.
Elbe	Radebeul-Kötzschenbroda, near the steam ship port	Year 1811	Radebeuler Hungerstein
Elbe	Meißen	Was recorded by Johann Friedrich Usinus to have been spotted in 1746 bearing the carving of the year 1654
Elbe	Torgau, on the right side near the destroyed bridge	Can be seen at a water level of 50 cm or lower	Hungersteine in Torgau
Elbe	Schönebeck (Elbe), near kilometer 311 on the right riverbank	Measuring 1,5 by 1,5 by 2 meters and weighing 10 tons	Hungerstein in Schönebeck
Elbe	Schönebeck (Elbe), museum of the city (formerly in the port)	47 cm in size, year: 1904	Hungerstein im Kreismuseum Schönebeck
Elbe	Westerhüsen, part of Magdeburg	see Hungerstones near Westerhülsen	Hungersteine bei Westerhüsen
Elbe	Magdeburg, Domfelsen	Red sandstone formation near Domfelsen, also called Hungerfelsen (lit. "hunger rock"); carved 2018 in August	Domfelsen Magdeburg
Elbe	Bleckede, near the ferry port	Kilometer 550. Carved with the sentence: Geht dieser Stein unter, wird das Leben wieder bunter (lit. When this stone goes under, life will become more colourful again)
Moselle	Traben-Trarbach-Litzig, left riverside
Mündesee	Angermünde, north of the village
Rhine	Worms-Rheindürkheim, near kilometer 449.4 on the left riverbank	Several stones, years ranging from 1857 to 2009	Hungerstein im September 2003 im Rhein bei Worms-Rheindürkheim
Rhine	Wageningen, Lexkesveer	Hunger-climate stone, placed by Extinction Rebellion, text 'Climate justice, 2022'	File:Honger-klimaatsteen, Wageningen.jpg
Weser	Near Hajen, on the left riverbank	Red sandstone that was smoothed by the river	Hajener Hungerstein
Weser	Würgassen	3 m³ hunger stone with the years 1800, 1840, 1842, 1847, 1850, 1857, 1858, 1859, 1865, 1874, 1876, 1881, 1911, 1922, 1934 and 1959

Common years

Year	Number of hunger stones marked
1115	1
1417	1
1461	1
1616	1
1654	1
1666	1
1681	1
1707	2
1746	1
1778	1
1790	1
1800	2
1811	2
1830	1
1840	1
1842	3
1847	1
1850	1
1857	2
1858	1
1859	1
1865	1
1868	2
1874	1
1876	1
1881	1
1892	3
1893	3
1899	1
1903	1
1904	5
1911	2
1921	2
1922	1
1928	2
1930	1
1934	1
1943	1
1947	2
1950	1
1952	1
1959	2
1963	3
1971	1
2003	3
2009	1
2015	7
2016	1
2018	6
2022	?

See also

• Nilometer