Great Glacial Giants: Erratic Boulders in Poland as Sources of Geomythology

Erratic boulders are among the most striking geological features left behind by former ice sheets. In Poland, repeated advances and retreats of the Fennoscandian Ice Sheet (FIS) during the Pleistocene resulted in the deposition of thick sequences of clastic sediments and fragments of Scandinavian bedrock of varying sizes, including large erratic boulders. These impressive geological objects are not only valuable archives of past glacial activity, but also play an important role in society, functioning as natural resources, prominent landscape markers, and rich sources of geomythological narratives.

This study examines the distribution and characteristics of large erratic boulders in Poland. These features were identified using published literature, maps, and catalogues of environmentally protected sites, such as registers of natural monuments. A comprehensive GIS database was compiled, incorporating all available information on each boulder, including location, dimensions, petrography, and, where possible, historical background. Many of these erratics possess considerable cultural significance for local communities, giving rise to legends and myths, serving as esoteric or symbolic places, or commemorating important historical events. This contribution presents and discusses the most compelling legends and myths associated with large erratic boulders in Poland.

 

This research was supported by the National Science Centre, Poland (grant numbers 2023/49/N/HS3/02181 and 2022/46/E/ST10/00074).