“Memory of stones”

Abstract

This article attempts to interpret folk narratives featuring the motif of producing millstones from erratic boulders and their subsequent reuse in new functional contexts. According to our assumptions, in folk narratives originating from the northern regions of Germany and Poland, where these motifs are present, one can find references to the methods of obtaining stone materials characteristic of these areas. These narratives also include information about the occurrence of erratic boulders – consistent with the geomorphology of regions affected by the last glaciation, and residual information regarding the distribution of millstones as well as semi-finished products. Thus, folk narratives can often serve as an interesting point of reference not only for ethnologists and folklorists but also for geologists and geographers.