'Hunger Stones' reveal drought warnings from the past

atcclears writes: The drought in Europe is revealing stones carved centuries ago to give future generations a warning of hard times ahead.

Locals said the centuries-old boulders, known as "hunger stones", reappeared last week as rivers in Europe ran dry due to drought conditions. One such stone is on the banks of the Elbe River, which begins in the Czech Republic and flows through Germany. The boulder dates back to 1616 and is etched with a warning in German: "Wenn du mich seehst, dann weine" – "If you see me, then weep," according to a Google translation of the phrase.