Lifting stone

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Lifting Stones are common throughout northern Europe, particularly Scotland, Iceland, Scandinavia and northern England. They were usually heavy local stones, without any modification, with the challenge being to lift such a stone, proving your strength. Some of the stones are in fact so heavy that there has been no authenticated lift in modern times, only legend.

Lifting stones have often been incorporated into the World's Strongest Man competitions.

One such stone, clach-ultaich Iain Ghairbh MhicIlleChaluim Raasaidh is at Duntulm, Skye, Scotland and is said to weigh about a ton.

Lifting stones is also a traditional sport in the Basque Country, where it is called harri jasoketa. There are several varieties, particularly using round stones and rectangular ones. The goal can be raising and ropping a stone of certain weight as many times as possible or simply raising once a most heavy stone in order to beat a record. Most famous Basque stone-lifter was Iñaki Perurena, now retired, who stabilished several records.