A hunger stone (German: ) 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 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 "" ("If you see me, then weep") carved into it as a warning.
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, 2022, and in 2026.
Known hunger stones RiverCountryLocationNotesPictureDanubeBudapest, right (Buda) riverside at the foot of the Gellért Hill, very close to Szabadság hídA small stone, (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 1899DravaMaribor Island near KamnicaInscribed with the date 1834. Stone reappeared in the drought of 1921, and it was proposed that that date would be added to the stone as well.ElbeDěčín (Tetschen) left riverbank, near the Tyrs bridgeThe 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 „“ (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.ElbeTěchlovice nad Labem near DěčínStone with the number 1666 (Roman: MDCLXVI)ElbeTěchlovice near DěčínStone with multiple years: 1892, 1903, 1904, 1911, 1928, 1963, 2015 etc.ElbeDolní Žleb, part of DěčínApproximately ten stones with the years 1842, 1868, 1892, 1904, 2015ElbeSchmilka, near the border crossingElbeProssen, beneath former train conductor's houseFive years between 1928 and 2015 are carved on a skewed stone plateElbeKönigstein, near the villageYear 1681ElbeKönigstein, left riverbank near the Biela riverYears 1952, 2003, 2015ElbeStadt Wehlen, district of PötzschaYear 1868ElbePirna, district Oberposta, right riverbankAccording 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 itElbeDresden-Pillnitz, near the stairs of Pillnitz Castle's western sphinxYears: 1778, 1893, 1904, 2003, 2018.ElbeDresden-LaubegastYears: 1893, 1899, 2003, 2015.ElbeDresden-Tolkewitz, near Tolkewitzer Street 73Year: 2016.ElbeDresden-Blasewitz2 by 2 meter stone near kilometer 48.7 with years: 1930, 1943, 1947, 1950, 1963 etc.ElbeRadebeul-Kötzschenbroda, near the steam ship portYear 1811ElbeMeißenWas recorded by Johann Friedrich Usinus to have been spotted in 1746 bearing the carving of the year 1654ElbeTorgau, on the right side near the destroyed bridgeCan be seen at a water level of 50 cm or lowerElbeSchönebeck (Elbe), near kilometer 311 on the right riverbankMeasuring 1.5 by 1.5 by 2 meters and weighing 10 tonsElbeSchönebeck (Elbe), museum of the city (formerly in the port)47 cm in size, year: 1904ElbeWesterhüsen, part of Magdeburgsee ElbeMagdeburg, DomfelsenRed sandstone formation near Domfelsen, also called (lit. "hunger rock"); carved 2018 in AugustElbeBleckede, near the ferry portKilometer 550. Carved with the sentence: (lit. When this stone goes under, life will become more colourful again)MoselleTraben-Trarbach-Litzig, left riversideMündesee, north of the villageRhineWorms-Rheindürkheim, near kilometer 449.4 on the left riverbankSeveral stones, years ranging from 1857 to 2009SavaNear Zidani MostLike the Maribor Island stone, this one was inscribed with the date 1834 and reappeared in 1921. WeserNear Hajen, on the left riverbankRed sandstone that was smoothed by the riverWeserWürgassen3 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 YearNumber ofhunger stones marked1115 11417 11461 11616 11654 11666 11681 11707 21746 11778 11790 11800 21811 21830 11834 21840 11842 31847 11850 11857 21858 11859 11865 11868 21874 11876 11881 11892 31893 31899 11903 11904 51911 21921 21922 11928 21930 11934 11943 11947 21950 11952 11959 21963 31971 12003 32009 12015 72016 12018 6
See also Nilometer
References