Puntukas

Puntukas is the second-largest boulder in Lithuania, a natural monument of the state. It is situated some 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) south of Anykščiai on the left bank of the Šventoji River. Next to Puntukas, the treetop trail of Anykščiai Pine Forest is arranged. It was believed to be the largest stone in Lithuania until the discovery of Barstyčiai stone in the Skuodas district in 1957.

Puntukas stone from a far

Physical characteristics

Puntukas is a glacial erratic—it was brought by glaciers during the last glacial period (18th–12th millennium BC) probably from Finland.^[1] It measures 6.9 metres (23 ft) in length, 6.7 m (22 ft) in width, and 5.7 m (19 ft) in depth (including 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) underground). It weighs about 446 tons according to the latest data.^[2][3] It is made of Rapakivi granite. Its reddish mass includes large crystals of potassium feldspar surrounded by green rings of oligoclase.^[1]

Sculpture

A 2013 2 litai coin

In 1943, sculptor Bronius Pundzius engraved portraits and quotes from last wills of Lithuanian pilots Steponas Darius and Stasys Girėnas for the 10th anniversary of their deaths during the transatlantic flight with Lituanica. The sculpting process took about 180 days.

Local legends

Pavasarininkai at Puntukas in 1938

A local legend has it that velnias (devil in the Lithuanian mythology) carried the stone to destroy the Anykščiai Church, however a rooster crowed. The devil disappeared back into the underworld, leaving only Puntukas behind.^[4] The legend was featured in the famous poem Anykščių šilelis by Antanas Baranauskas.^[5]

According to another story, a brave Lithuanian warrior Puntukas was killed and was burned (a usual pagan custom) on the stone; since then it is known as Puntukas stone. Other legends claim that the stone was a pagan shrine or altar and that oaks growing around are relics of the sacred groves.^{[6][7] [8]}