For the most part , the 390 - Swedish mile border between France and Belgium has stay unchanged since 1820 , when it was made official by the Treaty of Kortrijk . The line is marked by a serial of tombstone - corresponding mental block engraved with 1819 ( the year they were installed ) and consider at least a few hundred pounds each . In other words , they ’re not the character of Isidor Feinstein Stone you could accidentally kick out of place — which is proficient , since relocating one would alter the perimeter and put you at risk for criminal charges .
For one Belgian farmer , that office is n’t strictly hypothetical . consort toThe New York Times , the nameless culprit recently shifted a stone a trivial over 7 understructure into northerly France , blow up his own place … along with the moulding of his entire res publica . We do n’t yet know whether the sodbuster understood what the rock was , allow alone the potential outcome of displace it . But it ’s beenreportedthat he was just assay to make it easy to force his tractor around the plot of ground . The fence along the edge of his land had also been shift onto Gallic territorial dominion .
The evildoing was discovered not by drones or other geo - tracking engineering , but by some Gallic history fancier who used an honest-to-goodness map to compare the stones ’ current locations to their original spot . As soon as they saw this especial stone in April , they thought it seemed off .
“ All the markers are typically placed in a very precise manner , but this one was raised up on higher ground . It just look unusual , ” Jean - Pierre Chopin , a member of the group , toldThe New York Times .
It ’s now up to the head teacher official on each side of the border — David Lavaux of Erquelinnes , Belgium , and Aurélie Welonek of Bousignies - sur - Roc , France — to classify out the issue . As long as the farmer accord to supersede the marker , they do n’t plan on taking further action . “ We have no stake in expanding the town , or the state , ” Lavauxjokedto France Bleu .
[ h / tThe New York Times ]
