Atlas Stone History & Technique

For centuries Humans have determined group/tribe structure through Physical Competition such as Running, Throwing, Lifting & Carrying.

One of these practices has included "STONES" such as Atlas Stones.

A stone can remain unchanged for a centuries allowing us to test strength against our ancestors.

The type of stone used & the method in which was used was very much a regional developments, different continents/countries would use different method & stone variations:

Overhead Stone Press: Japan

Stone Carry: Iceland

Stone Shouldering: Spain

Stone Throw: Scotland

Stone Load: All cultures

Strongman & Atlas Stones have roots in Viking Traditions.

The Norsemen were known for being fierce warriors however this was often less accurate as Fishing & Farming actually made up the majority of their day.

To earn your worth, position, job role & responsibility on the farm or fishing boat a village created a set of stones can be found on the beach of Djúpalónssandur at the foot of Snæfellsjökull.

The stones at Djúpalónssandur are classified as:

Amlóði ("useless") at 23 kg (50.7 pounds)

Hálfdrættingur ("weakling") at 54 kg (119 pounds)

Hálfsterkur ("half strength") at 100 kg (220.5 pounds)

Fullsterkur ("full strength") weighing 154 kg (339.5 pounds)

There was also the Húsafell Stone which weighs 186 kg (410 lb)

The Húsafell Stone is a stone located in the village Húsafell, Iceland and was kept near a sheep pen built by reverend Snorri Björnsson over two hundred years ago.

The stone has been used as a test of strength by either simply lifting the stone or by lifting and carrying the stone around the goat pen.

Stone Lifting Statuses:

Lazybones: Up to knees

Half-Strong: Up to the waist

Full-Strong: Could lift it up to the chest and walk with it around the perimeter of the sheep pen.

Records set with this stone include Canadian strongman Gregg Ernst who set a record in 1992 by carrying the Húsafell Stone 70 metres.

This record was broken during Iceland's Strongest Man 2017, by Hafþór Björnsson who carried the stone for 90 metres.