Europe’s Historic Droughts Uncover ‘Hunger Stones,’ Ancient Monuments
Across Europe, dwindling water levels in rivers and reservoirs are revealing relics of the past as a severe drought grips the continent. The extreme conditions are impacting shipping, exposing prehistoric structures, and bringing to light “hunger stones” – historical markers warning of past famines.
In the Netherlands, the Waal River has dropped so low it’s fallen below the bottom marker on bridges. Germany’s Rhine River is experiencing shipping disruptions due to its diminished depth. Meanwhile, in Spain, the receding waters of the Buendía Reservoir in the province of Cáceres have revealed the Dolmen of Guadalperal, a prehistoric stone monument nicknamed the “Spanish Stonehenge,” for only the fourth time since 1960. The stones, dating back thousands of years, were submerged after advancement during the Francisco Franco dictatorship.
Elsewhere, so-called hunger stones – medieval markers inscribed with warnings about low water levels and potential famine – are reappearing in rivers, a stark reminder of past hardships.
“It’s quite extraordinary, especially for this time of year,” said Martina Becker from the German company HGK Shipping, in a statement to the BBC. “This is an unusual situation for us, and the question is what happens in October, when the usually dry months arrive. We are already approaching the record low level we had in 2018. We could reach that level next week.”
While seasonal drops in water levels are common, this year’s drought is exceptionally severe. Scientists link thes increasingly frequent and intense weather disasters to human-induced climate change. NASA data indicates the planet has already warmed 2.1 degrees Fahrenheit as 1880, exacerbating such events. Addressing the crisis, experts say, requires a significant reduction in reliance on fossil fuels.
