Hag stones from the UK

Hag stones from the UK

Odd little guys these - hag stones. A stone with a natural hole in.

Typically, they're flint - and the natural hole is the matter of some debate. Most people consider the hole to be caused by the natural erosion of some inclusions in the flint, like ancient sea urchins or sponges.

Some people consider hag stones to be lucky. They are also sometimes known as 'adder stones'. They are reasonably prevalent in European folklore, especially in the UK, Germany, and Russia.

These pieces have been collected on beaches around England, especially in Kent.

Further reading

• https://www.horniman.ac.uk/story/hag-stones-and-lucky-charms/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adder_stone