B.L. Freeborn © January, 2023, Updated January 2026 (PDF version.)

Photo of Bourne Stone by Gene M. Marchand, The Enterprise – Bourne

2003 rubbing by Scott Wolter, Sherry Malecha and Charlotte Czarnecki.
The Bourne Stone from Cape Cod provides another riddle to be deciphered. Its reading and origin have been long debated. There are four very good write ups on the Bourne Stone listed below. The reader is left to explore these for background and other views. The traced image at the Bourne Historical Society, where the Bourne Stone is displayed, appears to be the one created by Scott Wolter, Sherry Malecha and Charlotte Czarnecki in 2003 and shown in his book (pg. 311).
Below is a translation of the stone based on the drawing which appears to be more than correct. The symbols do translate as runes primarily in the Younger Futhark with two exceptions which are in the older. The number work below is explained in Validating North American Rune Stones.(see PDF list below) It is too long to explain here adequately. Essentially, the numbers 56 and 792 must be found once the runes are converted to their numeric values.
There is an immediate give away that this is Pagan – Runic in nature and probably a riddle. The LI in a vertical line preceding the images which are read right to left is very notable. In the Kensington Rune Stone (post), Spirit Pond Long Inscription Stone (post) and the Rök Rune Stone in Sweden a TI is used. In the Kingigtorssuaq Inscription a BL is used (see Validating North American Inscriptions pdf list below). The proposed significance of the images are: comet, lake, sail; and walk about /tour -or- giant’s footprints/shoe meaning ‘foundation.’
If what follows seems odd or ridiculous to you, remember the Catholic Church went to great lengths to wipe out all pagans. The victor has taught us what they want us to think pagans believed. The question becomes as suggested in the movie ‘The Da Vinci Code,’ what was so dangerous to the Church in pagan beliefs? Perhaps their beliefs were not even remotely what we have been led to believe.
Number Proof of Transliteration

A number proof of the transliteration is required to prove certain values appear. If they do not, then it is either not transliterated correctly or not Pagan / Baalist in origin. (See below.**) (Rune/number charts are below.)
- Note: G and H are from Older Futhark.
- Total sum on right (G,H,S,I,S,U,K,I and L) ⇒ (7,9,11,9,11,2,6,9 and 15) is 79.✓
- Sum of SUKI is 28.✓
- Sum of GHSI is 36.✓
- There are 18 runes on the first line.✓
- GH, SI is 7,9, 11,9 ⇒ 7920.✓
N to G (N ʀʀʀʀG) (8,16,16,16,16,7) =79 and it is followed by HS (9,11) = 20 or 7920.✓
- There are 5 images and then it turns and there is a 6th ⇒ 56.✓
There are 5 I’s and 6 ʀ’s ⇒ 56.✓
5 I’s is 5 x 9 = 45. 6 ʀ’s is 6 x 16 = 96. Sum is 141 and twice this is 282.✓
- Also 5 x 9 x 6 x 16 = 4320.✓
- The four strokes (ʀ’s) are in two groups. Each group is 16,16 or 32.✓
- The four strokes (ʀ’s) are 4 x 16 = 64. This is preceded by N or 8 so 864.✓
- The first three strokes are separated off by the fourth that is lower. IʀI is 9,16,9 = 34.✓
- Then ʀ N and N is tall or 16, 8 = 24.✓
IL is 9,15 = 24.✓
- Placement of ‘fingers’ on comet is 1, 3, 1⇒ 113 or twice 56.5✓ and 32.✓
- Total sum on left is 131 ⇒ 113 or twice 56.5✓
Let’s give some of these meaning:
- There are 24 hours in a day and 24 hours of longitude mark the planet.
- There are 360 degrees of longitude and 36 suggests 360.
- Similarly, the 18 runes of the inscription suggests 180 degrees of latitude.
- The number of seconds of longitude is 86400. This is also the number of seconds in a day. Half of this is 432,000 or 432 for short.
- The diameter of the planet is 7920 miles.
- The 113, 32, 34 and 282 are related to 56. The complementary angle of 56 is 34. The square of 5.65 is 32 and twice 282 is 564. Twice 56.5 is 113.
All of these seem to refer to time, longitude and/or latitude except for the last group.
It would appear the transliteration is correct. Not far from where this is located was the Leif Erikson stone on Nomans Land (post). This inscription is very similar to it, so we might suspect he used some of the same tricks. In that inscription the date was prominent in the middle, many I’s were used, part of the writer’s name was included in the script and the rest of his name had to be deduced by working the numbers backwards to obtain runes. In that script Leif was spelled out clearly. Here the name appears to be hidden in an anagram.
Translation of Text
In the Younger Futhark I’s can be used as E’s. In this riddle one ʀ becomes R so that:
I ʀ I I ʀ N ʀʀʀʀ GHSISUKI and L is an anagram of ‘Henricus’, ( HENʀIKUS), and other words. After Henricus is removed the remaining letters are Iʀ II ʀʀʀʀ G S L.
The four strokes (ʀ’s) suggest an Æ /O.
The G can be seen as an X as in ‘X marks the spot’ or with O it is ‘go.’
Now remaining S, L, Iʀ II ⇒ S LI Iʀ I ⇒ S lie ire eye or South lies the eye that wandered which is a typical Baalist statement. Other Pagan / Baalist concepts: Iʀ I Iʀ N ʀ ⇒ Ire I Ire, Near, North go.
The enlarged NI provides ⇒ nigh ……and comet, lake, footprints’ of the giant, and foundation.
The N is actually written as an A which is its mirror image. This reversal is suggestive of the name An which is the name of a Baalist goddess. In actuality, it refers to the North pole and the mountain that once was there. This provides A = 10 and N = 8 or the sum 18 again.
A pagan/Baalist reading might be:
South lies the eye that wandered in ire as it went.
There are two foundations now, the Magnetic and True.
The North foundation went South.
An lies nigh in the comet’s lake where it left its giant footprints.
Henricus and Dates
Bishop Henricus was believed to be the first bishop in Vinland. He was supposedly sent by Pope Paschal II (AD 1099-1118). (Gordon, pg. 93) However, it appears he was pagan. There is nothing else known about him in the historical record, except who replaced him. Hidden in the anagram on the right side are dates which correspond to those mentioned in the Spirit Pond Stones (post) and seen imbedded in the Newport Tower (post). Both of these suggest Henricus had a much more interesting fate.
Recall the letters/numbers on the right are: (G,H,S,I,S,U,K,I and L) ⇒ (7,9,11,9,11,2,6,9 and 15).
Note that in the center is the word ‘is’ in both directions and note that SUKI provides 11 and 2,6,9 ⇒ 1117. Also, GHS provides 11 and 9,7 ⇒ 1116. Taking this one step further, the I and L or 9 and 15 sum to 24 and on either side is a S/ 11 so that we have 1124. These are the same dates seen in the aforementioned inscriptions. These years coincide with when he arrived in Vinland after taking his journey to the seat of Baal, ie. Belcher Island in the giant’s footprints which we call Hudson Bay; and when Henricus supposedly passed.
Henricus sailed to the comet lake for a tour in 1116 to 1117.
It is where the eye wandered and turned. It lies nigh and near…
He left us in 1124.
Author and Date of Inscription
This stone is dated via the Easter Tables. (The reader is directed to Landsverk’s books below on this method of dating.) The total number of runes is 19 with 18 on the first and 1 below. There are first 5 strokes, N = 8, and 4 ʀ strokes. Line #19 begins years 1112 etc. This is an appropriate line. Golden Number (GN) 18 has Day Letter (DL) 5 ⇒ year 1119. Similarly, GN 19 has DL 4 ⇒ 1120. Both years 18 and 19 are suggested by the rune layout. The ‘SIS’ which is ‘11,9,11′ also suggests 1119.
The author’s name remains to be found. The Nomans Land – Leif Iriksson stone uses a ÞIʀ as three letters from the author’s name. The remaining letters were found by counting and converting back to letters/runes. The same occurs here. The IʀN are central and large which suggests it is important. There are 4 ʀ (strokes) on the right of the N which implies 4 = Æ/O. There are 3 strokes on the left which implies Þ (Th or D). So, we have ÞOʀN I or simply put I am Thorn. This is also an anagram of I north. It is also ‘I R 3 N O’ which might be read easily as ‘I are three North O’s.’ This is a description of Hudson Bay.
I am Thorn and I also went north. I wrote this here in 1119.
More Hidden
On the left side the runes Þ, I, R, N, O have now been found and on the right G,H,S,I,S,U, K,I and L. (Þ is ‘th’) This makes 14 letters.
Previously, Henricus was pulled out. This now leaves – Þ, O, G, S, I, L which can be rearranged to: TH I S G O L. The phrase is then: ‘ This Henricus’ goal.’ The same exercise can be repeated for these fourteen letters. The phrases found are consistent with those found in other Runic Riddles including ‘The Vinland Map Cipher,’ ‘The Long Inscription from Spirit Pond’ and ‘The Rök Rune Stone.’
With these 14 letters find:
N GO S THIS LI RK HIU ………. North go South. This lie 56 792.
THIS HENRIKUS GOL ………. This Henricus’ goal.
THUS KINK O LI RI SH ………. Thus King O lie (about) RI. Shhh…
HI NORTH KIL US GIS ………. He – North kill? Us – Yes!
R GO THIN HU IS SKIL ………. Are (a) go then. How is skill.
GO THIR NU HIS SKIL ………. Go there – now his skill.
GO THIR N KIL US SIH ………. Go there. North kill us. Sigh.
3 RING U I SHO SKIL ………. 3 ring cups. I show skill.
HI THUS ORING SKIL ………. He thus oaring skill.
THIN SIK LUC S RI OH ………. Then sick. Luck south RI island. (Oh = island.)
NU THIS RISK LIG OH ………. Now this risk leg. Oh!
THE KINK LI RU S SHO ………. The King lie. Row south (to) show.
NU GO THIS S RI HI LK ………. Now go this south RI. He look.
KING O SLI THIR HUS ………. King O sly. There house.
More phrases can be found.
‘King O’ is King Oystein of Norway who supposedly died in 1123 which is the same year Henricus also supposedly passed. The suggestion throughout these runic riddles was that King Oystein traveled as Bishop Henricus and lied about his whereabouts.
South lies the eye that wandered in ire as it went.
There are two foundations now, the Magnetic and True.
The North foundation went South.
It lies nigh in the comet’s lake where it left its giant footprints.
It is where the eye wandered and turned. It lies nigh and near… 56̊ N and 79.2̊ W.
Henricus sailed to the comet lake for a tour in 1116 to 1117.
Then he traveled south to RI island.
The King left us in 1124.
I am Thorn and I also went north to RI. I wrote this here in 1119.
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From Wikipedia
Similar Articles by the Same Author in PDF and Post:
*Easter Tables
** For numeric background see:
**Freeborn, B.L., Validating North American Runic Inscriptions, noahsage.com, November 2022. PDF only.
Freeborn, B.L., The Vinland Map Ciphers, noahsage.com, December 2025. Book only see post.
Freeborn, B.L., The Vinland Map Ciphers Addendum, noahsage.com, December 2025. PDF only.
Freeborn, B.L., Ancient Riddles to Test Our Wits: The Secret Chamber, noahsage.com, January 2016. Post here.
Freeborn, B.L., Another Riddle in Stone from Canada, noahsage.com, August 2025. Post here.
Freeborn, B.L., Deciphering the Spirit Pond, Nomans Land and Narragansett Runic Inscriptions, noahsage.com, November 2022. Amulet post. Map stone post. PDF only.
Freeborn, B.L., Et in Arcadia Ego – OUOSVAVV DM – Deciphered, noahsage.com, December 2022. Post here.
Freeborn, B.L., Kensington Rune Stone: A New Translation, noahsage.com, February 2023. Post here.
Freeborn, B.L., Rök runestone of Sweden, noahsage.com, April 2023. Post here.
Freeborn, B.L., Runic Riddles: Time Capsules, noahsage.com, December 2022. Post here.
Freeborn, B.L. The Long Debated Bourne Stone, noahsage.com, January 2023. Post here.
Freeborn, B.L., The Nomans Land – Leif Eriksson Inscription, noahsage.com, December 2022. Post here.
Freeborn, B.L., The Narragansett Inscription: A Translation with its Date of Dedication, Author and Inscriber, noahsage.com, October 2022. Post here.
Freeborn, B.L., The Newport Tower: Finding the Date of Dedication, its Designer and Builder, noahsage.com, October 2022. Post here.
Freeborn, B.L., The Wawa Stone and Its Viking Ship, noahsage.com, August 2025. Post here.
Freeborn, B.L., Rok Rune Stone and its ciphers, noahsage.com, November 2024. Post here.
References
Firestone, Richard; West, Allen; Warwick-Smith, Simon; The Cycle of Cosmic Catastrophes: Flood, Fire, and Famine in the History of Civilization, Bear & Company, Rochester, VT., 2006.
Gordon, Cyrus, Riddles in History, Crown Publishers, Inc. New York, 1974.
Landsverk, O.G., Ancient Norse Messages, Norseman Press, Glendale, California, 1969.
Landsverk, O.G., Runic Records of the Norsemen in America, Erik J. Friis, Publisher, Rushford, MN, 1974.
Nielson, Richard and Wolter, Scott, The Kensington Rune Stone: Compelling New Evidence, Lake Superior Agate Publishing, 2006.
Mongé, Alf & O.G. Landsverk, Norse Medieval Cryptography in Runic Carvings, Norseman Press, Glendale, California, 1967.
Syversen, Earl, Norse Runic Inscriptions with Their Long-forgotten Cryptography, The Vine Hill Press, Sebastopol, California, 1979.
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Websites
Chartier, Craig, New Thoughts on an Old Rock or Confessions of an Ignorant Skeptic, January 2016, at: https://plymoutharch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/The-Bourne-Stone.pdf
Hoxie, Nelda, Visiting the Mysterious Bourne Stone at the Bourne Historical Society, 2 September 2015, at: https://wizzley.com/visiting-the-mysterious-bourne-stone-at-the-bourne-historical-society/
Petiet, Mary, New Theory Presented About Bourne Stone Markings, The Enterprise Bourne, 15 October 2015 at: https://www.capenews.net/bourne/news/new-theory-presented-about-bourne-stone-markings/article_c471626c-0d8e-509f-bb5b-c0c235e62f31.html
Wicked Yankee, The Bourne Stone – Bourne, Ma, 31 October, 2012 at:
http://wickedyankee.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-bourne-stone-bourne-ma.html