Lifting stone

Lifting stones are heavy natural stones which people are challenged to lift, proving their strength. They are common throughout Northern Europe, particularly Iceland (where they are referred to as steintökin), Ireland, Scotland, Basque Country, Faroe Islands, Wales, North West England centered around Cumbria, Switzerland, Southern Germany centered around Bavaria, Austria, Scandinavia and also in the United States and parts of Asia such as Japan.
Recently, lifting stones have been incorporated into the World's Strongest Man and other similar strongman competitions, using various cast, found, or established challenge stones such as the Húsafell Stone, Dinnie Stones, Steinstossen, Inver Stones and Odd Haugen Tombstone. They also do modernized versions of events derived from ancient contests, in which athletes load heavy circular stones onto a platform, known as Atlas stones.
Famous lifting stones from around the world and the greatest stone lifters are listed below.
In Iceland, lifting stones were traditionally used to qualify men for work on fishing boats. Centuries ago, when approximately sixty fishing boats were operating, it required a practical way to quickly test whether someone was capable of working as a crew member. The stones not only became the formal interview but also sorted them to ranks. The ultimate objective was to reach "fullsterkur" status, by lifting the heaviest stone, proving the man is 'fully strong'. Some famous Icelandic lifting stones are described below.
The most famous legendary lifting stone in the world is the Húsafell Stone, named after the west country farming estate where it is located, about 132 km north east from Reykjavík. The iconic triangular-shaped stone which weighs 186 kg (410 lb) is said to have been crafted from a large rock, back in 1756, by a local pastor named Snorri Björnsson. Nicknamed the 'Kviahellan' (pen slab) by Snorri, he used it as the gate to his sheep and goat pen, ensuring the animals remain in the pen without escaping. The stone has since been used by strongmen as a test of strength.
According to Icelandic folklore, there are three levels to which your physical strength is measured by the stone. In ascending capacity they are amlóði, hálfsterkur and fullsterkur. Someone who could break the floor with the stone (lift the stone from the ground) which is already a substantial feat of strength, is called lazybones (amlóði in Icelandic), while anyone who could squat down, lap and lift it up to their waist level would be considered half-strong (hálfsterkur in Icelandic). However, for the iconic Icelandic full-strong status (fullsterkur in Icelandic), a person should lift it up to their chest, stand with it and walk it around the approximately 34 metre (112 ft) perimeter for a full 360° revolution around the sheep and goat pen. This final level can only be achieved by someone with extreme physical strength, stamina and endurance as hoisting the massive stone on to the chest while standing compresses the thorax and decreases lung capacity significantly.
At the tip of the west coast, on Djúpalónssandur beach at the foot of Snæfellsjökull, at the western end of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, lies four legendary stones called Dritvík stones which dates back to the 14th century. Historically, the sailors who rowed out from this port were asked to lift each stone onto a natural plinth called 'Stallurinn', to prove their worth to be a ship's crew member and also to decide their ranks and share of the catch. For example, to qualify as an oarsman a man would have to lift the hálfdrættingur onto the plinth, hoisting the hálfsterkur would make you a 'steersman' (second in command) and the fullsterkur would make you 'skipari' (master of the boat). The plinth had been around waist height, but throughout centuries almost all of it is now buried beneath the dark sand. Today, lifters prefer to lift the stones up to chest level and stand tall with them for a good lift.
The four stones are classified as:
Located in the Látravík cove at the westernmost point of the Westfjords region, the Judas Stone earned its name more than a century ago, when local farmers repeatedly tried to use it in the construction of a wall, only to have it 'betray' them like Judas by always slipping out of place due to its unbalanced nature. The stone weighs 127 kg (280 lb).
Also located in the Westfjords region between Tálknafjörður and Bíldudalur in the famous seabird cliffs are four stones called Latra Stones. For many generations, local fishermen used them to stay fit and to gain bragging rights in their little time on dry land. Like the Dritvík Stones, there is a hierarchy based on their size: 96 kg (212 lb), 107 kg (236 lb), 144 kg (317 lb), and the heaviest of the four: 177 kg (390 lb) which is called the 'Alsterkur'.
There is also an additional fifth stone called the 'Klofi stone' weighing 200 kg (441 lb).
The heaviest of Iceland's natural lifting stones is the 281.5 kg (621 lb) Brynjólfstak, which is a 1.5 meter long basalt located near Tálknafjörður in the Westfjords region. Legend says that the stone was first pulled from the sea in 1845, when a mighty farmer named Brynjólfur Eggertsson asked four of the strongest men in the area to lift the giant slab on to his shoulders. From there, Brynjólfur is said to have attached the stone to him with straps and carried it uphill, to the nearby ridge where it is currently located. The stone has since been named in his honor as Brynjólfstak (Brynjólfur's finger) due to the elongated shape of the stone.
This smooth and pillar-like stone is said to mark the spot where an unfortunate farmer made a pact with the devil. As the story goes, the lazy farmer wanted a fast track to an easier, more prosperous life, so the devil offered him his dream if he could simply complete one task: lifting the 220 kg (485 lb) Leggstein. It is located in the middle of the Westfjords region in Heydalur near Reykjanes. The legend says the farmer is buried under the massive plinth near the stone, to be carried around the plinth for several revolutions for his salvation.
In front of the Dynjandi waterfall in the Westfjords lies a black slate stone known as the Petursstein (Petur's stone) weighing 175 kg (386 lb). It is to be lapped and hoisted on to a large plinth. The stone was named after Pètur Gudmundsson and was at least 15 kg (33 lb) heavier back in the day before a piece of it broke off.
Located at Árbæjarsafn open-air museum in Reykjavík, are two sets of stones collectively known as the Arbaer Stones. First set is a collection of eight natural stones which are to be either lapped or lifted to chest height. The lightest weighs 81 kg (179 lb) and the heaviest two weigh 130 kg (287 lb) and 143 kg (315 lb). Second set contains two very heavy rectangularly carved man made stones with iron handles fixed to them. The lighter of the two weighs 254 kg (560 lb), and heavier one weighs 304 kg (670 lb).
At 'Mountain Villa' cabin at Flúðir are six natural stones whose formation dates back to the Pleistocene epoch. The stones originated as Magma which hurled red hot from Snæfellsjökull volcanic crater 4,800 ft above sea level. Throughout centuries, gravity pulled them down to the shore where North Atlantic waves continued to shape and polish them. Despite the sixth and final stone weighs 118 kg (260 lb), the first three of them are light and are meant for children to start their stone-lifting. They are to be lifted onto a hexagonal basalt column.
In Scotland, lifting stones were used throughout generations as a tests of strength. 'Clach cuid fir' which is Gaelic for 'manhood stones' were used for young men to welcome into manhood when they were able to lift their clan's testing stone to waist height. The traditional stone put is also a famous sport in ancient Scotland. Some famous Scottish lifting stones are described below.
The most famous among Scotland's legendary lifting stones are the Dinnie Stones. They are a pair of stones with metal rings fixed to each, located in Potarch, Aberdeenshire and made famous by strongman Donald Dinnie. Weighing 332.5 kg (733 lb) combined, the heavier stone weighs 188 kg (414 lb) and the lighter stone weighs 144.5 kg (319 lb). They were selected in the 1830s as counterweights for use in maintaining the Potarch Bridge. Lost following World War I, they were rediscovered in 1953 by David P. Webster. Strongmen lift the stones off the ground (also known as putting the wind under the stones) and also carry them or hold them for time as measures to check strength in different ways. The ultimate challenge is to replicate the 1860 performance of Donald Dinnie, by walking the original stones (heavier stone to be gripped from the front and the lighter stone from the back) over the historical Potarch Bridge distance of 17 ft 1+1⁄2 in (5.22 m). Another contemporary feat of strength is to pick up the stones from the sides and walk them in a farmers walk style carry. Lifting and holding the stones up unassisted without the use of lifting straps is widely regarded as a world class feat of grip strength.
There's also 'Nicol Stones' which are meant to be a stepping stone towards the Dinnies, weighing 138 kg (304 lb) and 114 kg (251 lb) for a combined 252 kg (556 lb).
A 118 kg (260 lb) (originally weighed 120 kg (265 lb)) granite stone, naturally made into an oval shape due to fast flowing waters of River Dee. Dating back to the 18th century, it was used to measure corn and wheat and sat outside of Inver Cottage from the early 20th century until 2021 where it was relocated to the Braemar Highland Games Centre. The American Bill Kazmaier was the first man to successfully overhead press the stone.
A five stone set replica of the historical stone, ranging from 125–190.5 kg (276–420 lb) was often featured at the Rogue Invitational. Athletes had to load them over a hitching post in 2021 and 2022, and onto the top of whiskey barrels in 2024. Overhead pressing the first two stones of this set has also been featured at the Arnold Strongman Classic.Only 10 men (Jerry Pritchett, Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, Mateusz Kieliszkowski, Rob Kearney, Bobby Thompson, Martins Licis, JF Caron, Oleksii Novikov, Tom Stoltman and Mitchell Hooper) have overhead pressed the 136 kg (300 lb) second stone of this set.
Inspired by the original Inver Stone, these smooth and perfectly spherical stones were carved out from granite by stone-mason Stewart McGlashan during the nineteenth century. The earliest account of them being used in a strength competition was in 1963 at Highland Games. The Stones of Strength event introduced first at 1986 World's Strongest Man and then 1987 Pure Strength is the beginning of the benchmark in modern day Strongman stone runs where the competitors had to lift five concrete stones of increasing weight, lap them in a squatting position and hoist them to the top of wooden barrels, one by one. In the initial competitions of the 1980s and 1990s, these barrels (now podiums), were of varying height, with the lightest stone requiring to be lifted approximately to a person's head height. The heavier the stone was, the closer it was located to the podium. From 1998 onwards, the stones increased in weight (now called 'Atlas stones'), and the podium heights and height ratios were gradually reduced. From the mid 2000s, podium heights and distance from the stone was kept uniform for better standardization.
Two of the most iconic Atlas stone runs today are the 5 Atlas Stones heavy set 120–200 kg (265–441 lb) and light set 100–180 kg (220–397 lb), which the world records are held by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (heavy set) and Tom Stoltman (light set) respectively. Iñaki Perurena shouldered a 211 kg (465 lb) Atlas stone and Magnus Samuelsson overhead pressed a 140 kg (309 lb) Atlas stone.
Located in Glenlyon, Perthshire, it is the oldest of the Scottish stones and the challenge of 'Bodach', both dating back to the 11th century. Originated from Dolerite which is rich in Iron, the stone's volume is considerably less for a stone which weighs 127 kg (280 lb), owing to its high density. For Bodach, it has to be lifted and placed on a flat plinth.
Situated next to a stone coffin, historians think the stone was placed on top of the coffin when criminals were buried alive. The stone weighs 105 kg (231 lb) and is used for either carrying or shouldering.
Also known as Chieftains stone, this 114.5 kg (252 lb) smooth round stone at Castle Menzies was expected to be lifted and carried for 10 paces (7.5 meters) to achieve manhood. It was originally used as the boundary marker for the bog at the Rannoch Moor.
At Sma Glen is a plinth and a stone along-with a challenge named after the practice of putting a saddle on a horse. The plinth known as 'Mare' is a tall and wide druid-like boulder, shaped at the top like a sloping desk with a 30° angle. The stone known as 'Saddle' which weighs 99 kg (218 lb) should be picked up and placed on top of the plinth so that it sits balanced on top.
A recently developed series of nine concrete spheres ranging from 18 kg (40 lb) to 152 kg (335 lb) used in the Blairgowrie & Rattray Highland Games. With very light first five of the nine stones, they also allow children to step into the world of stone-lifting.
In Ireland, lifting stones have been used for centuries as a test for strength, as rites of passage into manhood, as well as at funeral gatherings. A man who could put the wind under a lifting-stone was considered a local hero and given great respect for his strength, for the clearing of stones was an important matter in a rocky land like Ireland. Specialised throwing stones were also used in Irish warfare with great effect through the medieval period, and stone is a common material for construction of buildings, property boundaries, and memorials for the dead. Currently, stone-lifting in Ireland is experiencing a modern revival, as known historic stones are receiving more attention, visitation, and are being mapped, with details of weights, permissions, and other history recorded. Stone-lifters are expected to follow all rules of etiquette by not damaging or dropping the stones, not using tacky hands to enhance grip, obtaining permissions where needed, and to return the stones to their respective places.
Stone abounds on the Aran Islands where it remains the primary traditional building material for houses, walls, cenotaphs, and other structures. One such lifting stone is a 171 kg (377 lb) pink granite, called the Inishmore Stone, on Inishmore. It is also called Moulin Port Bheal an Dun by the locals. Liam O'Flaherty wrote about this stone in 'The Stone', 1937. Adjacent to it are two other smaller stones beside the main stone on the same patch of grass. Two other known stones are located on Inishmaan: The Inishmaan Graveyard Stone 153kg (337 lb). The full test was to lift the stone to the graveyard wall. Micil Tom Choilm was the last man to lift it to the wall until Tiernan Canny replicated the feat in 2024. The other stone is The Stonemason's Test at 125kg (276 lb). This stone had to be successfully loaded on to a dry limestone wall as a test to become a stonemason's apprentice on the island of Inishmaan. Located on private land, permission is required to lift.
Among other known ancient Irish stones are the Aughrim Graveyard Stone (outside Elphin, Co. Roscommon) which weighs 115 kg (254 lb) and meant to be shouldered when lifted.
The Bulk is 125k stone in Owning, Co. Kilkenny, which rests near a lone tree at the crossroads, surrounded by a low stone wall. The goal is to lift the stone and carry around the tree as many times as possible.
The Faha Stones in Faha, Co. Clare, are a pair weighing 162 kg (357 lb) and 112 kg (247 lb). These stones were lifted at burial games and ceremonies to honor the deceased and there are written records of this that date back hundreds of years. As there are two stones, the heavier one -Cloch na bhFear- is regarded as a man's stone, and the lighter one -Cloch na mBean- a woman's stone.
The 215 kg (474 lb) Flag of Denn in Denn, County Cavan is a heavy, almost perfectly rectangular stone associated with strong men of the parish who challenged each other after Sunday Masses to lift the stone up to their knees. The Flag had been overgrown with vegetation before being uncovered by kettlebell champion David Keohan. Only six men are known to have lifted the stone, including a man called Michael Clarke, who, according to legend, hoisted it onto his back over a century ago, walked 150 feet to the local pub, downed a glass of whiskey with the stone still on his back, and walked right back to the graveyard. Old accounts report there were originally three stones, called "The Flags of Denn." Under those three flags were supposed to lie the remains of three saints, and at that time this place was recognised as the saints burying ground. Convenient to this place there were three blessed wells. The good old people of that time when afflicted in any way used to go to pray at these flags where a cure was always obtained.
Every settlement in the Faroe Islands used to have its local lifting stone, called 'Hav', derived from the verb hevja which means 'to lift'. Visiting men would be challenged by the locals to show off their strength. These stones usually are very heavy and elongated in shape and they are mainly to be lifted off the ground to send wind underneath them.
One such iconic stone is now a part of a mural in the village of Mikladalur known as Marjunar Hav of Kalsoy. The legend says the 270 kg (595 lb) stone has been lifted by Marjun the milkmaid, in the 16th century. Another famous Hav is the 198.5 kg (438 lb) Anfinn’s Hav in Eysturoy.
According to Y pedair Camp ar Hugain Welsh for "The 24 feats", stone lifting was a common practice. It was usually performed by young boys as a rite of passage into manhood. It is said that once a young boy could lift the stone to his waist he was considered a man. Furthermore, the stone was used to develop a man's strength in preparation for battle. Stones varied, depending on what was available within the locality or on what was selected by the king of each region. The king's teulu ("personal army", or "household") were selected from each village or town within his borders, based upon a man's ability to lift stones, run, jump, leap, wrestle, fence, shoot a bow and arrow and throw a spear.
To date, a 136 kg (300 lb) lifting stone called Garreg Orchest (also known as 'Ysbyty Ifan Stone)' is still in place in the town of Criccieth in Gwynedd, North Wales. Competitors travel from all across the UK to attempt to lift and carry this large stone. In 2012 David Horne walked it for 62 feet (18.9m). The other most famous lifting stone of Wales is the 177.5 kg (391 lb) egg-shaped Criccieth Stone which is recognizable thanks to its broken chunk.
Stone lifting is also a traditional Basque Country sport involving the lifting of stones, called harri jasotzea. Basque country is located in the western Pyrenees, straddling the border between France and Spain on the coast of the Bay of Biscay.
There are several varieties of traditional Basque stones. 'Stone dragging/ giza proba' is a discipline where a very heavy rectangular stone is attached to a chain to be attached to the athlete around his waist or just to be gripped by a handle and the stone to be dragged for the furthermost distance. Cubic stones (Kuboa), rectangular stones (Laukizuzena), cylindrical stones (Zilindroa) and spherical stones (Biribila) are three different events where they are lapped and shouldered for as many reps as possible or for a one rep max. In the ontzi eramatea event, the weights were originally milk canisters prior to stones. For his prowess with both ancient and modern stones, Iñaki Perurena is considered the greatest Basque stonelifter.
In North West England centered around Cumbria, are several historical stone circles such as Castlerigg, Swinside and Birkrigg. Some stones, mainly the smallest and liftable ones among them have been used during ancient English sporting events which dates back to the 1600s. In Durham, a whinstone fetched from River Tees named Teesdale Feat Stone which weighs 135 kg (298 lb) posed a popular challenge which required the lifter to lift it on to a wooden table. The stone was lost for 12 years until it was founded again in 2024 and is now relocated in a field just off the Pennine Way footpath.
Another famous stone in Durham is the 130 kg (287 lb) Lonton Egg which has a distinctive indent on one side. After a few pints, young men from 1920s have challenged each other to lift it on the walk home from the nearby pub.
The 245 kg (540 lb) Northumberland Stone which was featured at 2015 World's Strongest Team competition was a cheviot granite from Cumbria. It is the heaviest stone ever used in a distance carrying event and Iceland's Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson carried the colossal stone for 46.52 metres (152 ft 7 in).
In Sweden, three of the most historical stones are Orebro stones, Kungslena stones and Ormeshaga stone. Orebro Stones are seven stones located in three recessed circles that are cut into the grass, situated about 160 km West of Stockholm. The heaviest stone weighs 176 kg (388 lb). Kungslena Stones are three stones with the heaviest one weighing 166 kg (366 lb) which reside outside the Kungslena church, situated about 125 km North East of Gothenburg. They are to be lifted and placed on top of three wooden stumps. Ormeshaga Stone lies under a tree by the roadside parallel to Lake Rottnen. It weighs 118 kg (260 lb).
In Denmark, located at the Open Air Museum of Copenhagen there's a historical stone named Mules Old Lifting Stone which weighs 180.5 kg (398 lb). It is meant to be lifted and held above ground for the longest time.
In Switzerland, affiliated to the Unspunnenfest, a festival held once every twelve years, a historic stone weighing 83.5 kg (184 lb) is thrown overhead for the longest distance. The event is known as Unspunnen stone throw. The contestants begin on a 6.1 metres (20 ft 0 in) runway, hurling the Aare granite stone as far as they could into a 4-inch-deep (100 mm) sand pit. In 2004, Swiss carpenter Markus Maire established the current record in this event with a 4.11 metres (13 ft 6 in) throw.
In Southern Germany centered around Bavaria, stone lifting has been a traditional sport for centuries. It was developed as a general test of strength primarily in the Bavarian Alps region, and under the care of the State Association of Stone Lifters, now developed as an independent sport. A notable event is the Bavarian stone lift which originated at the strong beer festival, where competitors have to lift a rectangular shaped stone attached to a ring, starting from a squatting position. Austria's Martin Wildauer holds the world record in this lift.
Events involving carrying, walking, shouldering, loading, holding and throwing stones have become very popular in the US across many American highland games competitions. Organizations such as 'New England Stone Lifting' also arrange competitions like 'Festival at Fort 4' to popularize stone lifting among the general public. Below are some of the most iconic stones.
At the Loon Mountain Highland Games in New Hampshire, there's a popular farmers walk event with a pair of stones which weigh 124.5 kg (274 lb) and 106 kg (234 lb) respectively for a combined weight of 230.5 kg (508 lb). It was originated in 1983 and pioneered by stone-lifter John Lundstrom. In 2015, Iceland's Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson competed against the Highland games specialists and carried the stones for 42.93 metres (140 ft 10 in).
A bulky, sharp and triangularly shaped stone weighing 221 kg (487 lb) named after Jón Páll Sigmarsson which is kept in New Hampshire, and used in some New England Highland Games. Like the Húsafell Stone, it is to be lifted onto the chest and carried for maximum distance. The Icelandic phrase 'Þetta er ekkert mál fyrir Jón Páll!' is inscribed in the stone.
Norwegian Strongman Odd Haugen was gifted with a 186 kg (410 lb) oval shaped stone on his 58th birthday and since has featured at the Arnold Strongman Classic a number of times in the Stone to Shoulder event. In 2019, Poland's Mateusz Kieliszkowski performed 5 repetitions. Only 8 men in history (Jesse Marunde, Martins Licis, Mateusz Kieliszkowski, Mikhail Shivlyakov, Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, Matjaz Belsak, Bobby Thompson and Oleksii Novikov) have lifted this stone to their shoulder.
In 2007, when Slater Strength Co. introduced the 237 kg (522 lb) Max. Atlas stone over 4ft bar event for the Arnold Strongman Classic in Columbus, Ohio, it went on to be popularized as the Manhood Stones. Throughout the years, stones got heavier and was frequently featured at Rogue Record Breakers. During 2024 Strongest Man on Earth in Colorado, Iceland's Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson broke the world record for the heaviest Manhood Stone ever lifted within a full competition by repping a 250 kg (551 lb) stone twice. Scotland's Tom Stoltman holds the world record for the heaviest Manhood Stone ever lifted at 286 kg (631 lb).
An Atlas stone heavier than 227 kg (500 lb) is called a Manhood stone. Only 20 men in history have ever loaded one over a 4ft bar within a full competition: Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, Austin Andrade, Mitchell Hooper, Trey Mitchell, Reza Gheitasi, Brian Shaw, Mikhail Koklyaev, Vytautas Lalas, Mike Jenkins, Travis Ortmayer, Mark Felix, Serhiy Romanchuk, Žydrūnas Savickas, Derek Poundstone, Phil Pfister, Oleksandr Pekanov, Steve MacDonald, Peiman Maheripour, László Fekete and Lucas Hatton.
In ancient Japan, stone lifting was carried out around Shinto shrines as a sport. サシ石 (Hiragana: さしいし)(sashi-ishi) ("overhead pressing stone"), 石担, (ishikatsugi) ("shoulder carried stone") and 石運び (ishihakobi) ("stone carrying") are some popular disciplines.
In Takayama, there are two smooth circular stones called Hida folk village stones which weigh 94 kg (207 lb) and 75 kg (165 lb) respectively. Back in the day, they were used to determine who is the strongest man in the village.
In late antiquity, Jerome described a long-standing tradition in Judaea where heavy round stones were placed in towns and villages for young men to lift as a test of strength, with some raising them to their knees or shoulders and the strongest lifting them overhead with straight, bound arms.
Rock carrying is traditional in Tibet and the rest of China where circular shaped natural stones and rectangularly shaped stones weighing up to 150 kg (331 lb) are lifted and carried. In India and Pakistan, rocks are lifted in different ways as a sport.
- As at 24 November 2024