A hag stone is a stone with a natural hole through it. It is usually glassy, and most are flint. They are also called adder stones, witch stones or fairy stones, and in German they are Hühnergötter, "chicken gods". If you found one on a shore and want a suggestion from a photo, you can try LithoCanvas.
How the hole forms
The usual explanation is water that wears a hole through the stone over time. A stone that was holed by human action does not count as a hag stone.
Where people find them
Hag stones turn up on beaches and shores. They are most common on the North Sea and Baltic coasts of northern Germany, and English finds include Brighton, the Thames shore and Hastings. Archaeologists have found them in Britain and Egypt. Our guide to flint and common beach rocks shows what the usual finds look like.
Natural hole or worked stone
Only a hole made by nature counts. Look at the edge of the hole with a magnifier for signs of tools. If you cannot tell, a local museum or archaeological society can help.
What the folklore says
This part is tradition. It is not a claim about the stone.
- The Roman writer Pliny described a snake-egg stone used by the Druids.
- In Wales, people believed snakes gathering in numbers made such stones.
- In England, a stone with a hole was hung on a string to ward off nightmares, a belief recorded since at least the 15th century.
- In Russia, the stones were linked to chicken-guarding spirits.
None of these ideas has been shown to be true.
Collecting rules
Check local rules before you take stones from a beach or a nature reserve. They differ by country and area.
Identify what you found
Weigh it, note the colour and look at the surface. For a closer look, what type of rock is this lists the checks. LithoCanvas can suggest what a stone is from a photo. The result is a suggestion, and your photo goes to Google Gemini only if you agree.
Questions and answers
What is a hag stone?
A stone with a natural hole through it, usually glassy and most often flint.
What does a hag stone mean?
Folklore gives it several meanings, from protection against nightmares to luck. These are traditions.
Where do you find hag stones?
On beaches and shores, especially on the North Sea and Baltic coasts and on English beaches.