Stone pelting

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For the competition sport, see Stone put. For the execution method, see Stoning and Rajm.


Protester throwing stones at police during the 2019 Chile protests

Stone throwing or rock throwing (called stone pelting in India when aimed at a person) is often treated as a criminal act of battery. In some political situations, people also use stone-throwing as a form of civil resistance.[1][2]

History[edit | edit source]

David and Goliath (1888) by Osmar Schindler

Throwing stones or rocks is one of the oldest ways to fight at a distance. Stone-throwing tools such as slings were found in the tomb of Tutankhamen, who died around 1325 BC. This shows people used stones as weapons long ago.[3]

Ancient writers also mention stone-throwers as military units. Xenophon names the petrobóloi (Ancient Greek: πετροβόλοι) in Hellenica, and Thucydides and Cassius Dio mention the lithobóloi (Ancient Greek: λιθοβόλοι) in their histories. Both words mean "stone-throwers" in Ancient Greek. [4][5][6][7]

The Roman military writer Vegetius, in De re militari, describes how Roman recruits were taught to throw stones by hand and with slings. He says soldiers were trained to throw stones weighing about a pound without needing a sling. [8]

In ancient Korea, the Goguryeo kingdom held an annual national seokjeon (stone battle) which the king attended. Over time, this stone-throwing event became a popular pastime during the Goryeo and Joseon periods. [9][10]

Stoning was also used in some cultures as a form of execution.

In the 18th century, William Blackstone wrote that if throwing stones in a town or on a highway caused a death, it was to be treated as manslaughter rather than murder. [11][12]

In 19th century Britain, "stone throwing" was often called a "nuisance". It was handled by local bylaws like other minor offences, such as kite-flying or doorbell ringing. [13]

Children have also thrown stones as a game. This has sometimes led to tragic accidents. [14]

Laws[edit | edit source]

Throwing rocks during riots is a crime. People who throw rocks can be charged with serious offences, such as assault on a police officer. Arrests have happened in many countries when people threw stones in riots or protests. [15][16]

Contexts[edit | edit source]

Rock-throwing can happen in many situations. It is often linked to assault, demonstrations, riots and international conflicts.

At people[edit | edit source]

Rock-throwing can be used by thieves. In 2015 in India, Ratan Marwadi was accused of throwing rocks at a passer-by, Darshana Pawar, to disable and rob her. Pawar died, and Marwadi had a past record of pelting rail commuters with stones to rob them. [17]

Vehicles[edit | edit source]

Motor vehicles[edit | edit source]

Rocks thrown at fast-moving cars are dangerous and have caused deaths and serious injuries in many countries. Many incidents involve rocks thrown from overpasses or high points beside roads. Police warn that at highway speeds a rock can hit with deadly force. [18]

Notable deaths and injuries include the death of Julie Catherine Laible, the Darmstadt case, the death of Chris Currie in New Zealand, and other highway incidents. [19]

Trains[edit | edit source]

Throwing rocks at trains has caused injuries to passengers and crew. Large rocks thrown through windows have been reported in several countries. [20]

Protests and riots[edit | edit source]

Rock-throwing is often used by unarmed people protesting against authorities. In many places, stone-throwers have been arrested during political demonstrations when violence escalates. [21]

International borders[edit | edit source]

Rock-throwing has occurred at borders, for example at the Egypt–Gaza border and the Mexico–United States border, where border agents often face stones thrown by groups trying to stop arrests. [22][23]

Prevention[edit | edit source]

Prevention measures include installing fences on overpasses and taking other local safety steps. For example, Florida installs fences on many overpasses after deadly incidents. [24]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Pressman, Jeremy (December 2017). "Throwing stones in social science: Non-violence, unarmed violence, and the first intifada". Cooperation and Conflict. 52 (4): 519–536. doi:10.1177/0010836717701967. JSTOR 48590278. S2CID 151500955. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  2. ↑ "Stone pelting: A form of resistance". Economic Times. 9 August 2010. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  3. ↑ Reeves, Nicholas (2007). The Complete Tutankhamun: The King, the Tomb, the Royal Treasure. London: Thames & Hudson. pp. 150–154.
  4. ↑ Xenophon. Hellenica (in Ἀρχαία ἑλληνικὴ). 2.4.12 – via Tufts University.
  5. ↑ Thucydides. History of the Peloponnesian War (in Ἀρχαία ἑλληνικὴ). 6.69 – via Tufts University.
  6. ↑ Cassius Dio Cocceianus. Historiae Romanae (in Ἀρχαία ἑλληνικὴ). 75.7.2 – via Tufts University.
  7. ↑ Smith, William (1875). Murray, John (ed.). A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities. pp. 553–554. Retrieved 15 August 2023 – via University of Chicago.
  8. ↑ Flavius Vegetius Renatus (390). "The Military Institutions of the Romans (De Re Militari)". Digital Attic. Translated from the Latin by Lieutenant John Clarke
  9. ↑ 최, 상수. "석전(石戰)". Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in 한국어).
  10. ↑ Lee, E-Wha (2006). Korea's Pastimes and Customs: A Social History. Homa & Sekey Books. pp. 112–116.
  11. ↑ Sir William Blackstone, A Summary of the Constitutional Laws of England Being an Abridgement of Blackstone's Commentaries, John Trusler 1796 pp.175–176
  12. ↑ John Burnett, Robert Craigie A treatise on various branches of the criminal law of Scotland, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, London, 1811 p.30
  13. ↑ Steve Sturdy, Medicine, Health and the Public Sphere in Britain, 1600–2000, Routledge 2013 p.194.
  14. ↑ "Aviso a paes e mães". Revista Universal Lisbonense : jornal dos interesses physicos, moraes e litterarios (in português). 21 September 1843. p. 59.
  15. ↑ "Stone throwing: seven arrested". The Hindu. 11 December 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  16. ↑ Bell, Kim (30 January 2015). "St. Louis man charged with throwing brick at cop during Ferguson protes". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  17. ↑ Gupta, Pradeep (25 February 2015). "Stone-thrower held for death of commuter". Times of India. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  18. ↑ Janzen, Eric (4 November 2014). "13 rock-throwing incidents reported along I-35 since June". KXAN. Archived from the original on 14 January 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  19. ↑ "National News Briefs; Professor Killed by Rock Thrown From Overpass". New York Times. 30 March 1999. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  20. ↑ "All Too Common". Television New Zealand. 25 August 2005. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  21. ↑ "Paris police arrest scores as pro-Palestinian demo turns violent". DW. AFP, dpa, Reuters. 27 July 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  22. ↑ Erlanger, Steven (26 January 2008). "Egypt Tries to Plug Border; Gazans Poke New Hole". New York Times. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  23. ↑ Medrano, Lourdes (3 December 2012). "Bullets vs. rocks? Border Patrol under fire for use of deadly force". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  24. ↑ Barton, Eric Allen (17 October 2000). "Fences may discourage vandals". Sarasota Herald Tribune. ProQuest 270637413.
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