The Vinland Map: Hidden Secrets – Part II

B.L. Freeborn © December 2025

This is a continuation of the previous post. If you have not read it, you may want to at this link.

Vinland Map. Photo by Yale Univversity.

The secrets hidden in the Vinland Map (image) are many. Hopefully you have had time to discover Oystein’s signature. Just in case you have not, it is shown at the end of this post.

Now you should be able to surmise two things. Some things on this map are shown with incredible accuracy and other things are laughable. Having found OM you know why.

What is superbly depicted on this strange map? Obviously, the depiction of Greenland is near perfect. How about the entire eastern seaboard from New Foundland to Cuba? How about the depiction of the Mississippi River? Then there is the depiction of the St. Lawrence Seaway. There is even a lovely picture of Niagara Falls in the 12th century before Goat Island was separated from the shore. OM or more properly, King Oystein Magnusson, included his beloved lake in Scotland where he was born. He also hinted at the location of his son’s grave and the monument he placed on it. This is the Rök rune stone in Sweden. There is also a rudimentary and awful depiction of Hudson Bay in a tiny Vinland in the upper left corner.

East coast shown on Vinland Map.

Mississippi River shown on Vinland Map

St. Lawrence Seaway noted in Vinland Map

Loch of Skene, Scotland shown on Vinland Map

Niagara Falls shown on Vinland Map before Goat Island

Hudson Bay in a tiny Vinland.

Rok rune stone. Son’s grave in Sweden.

It is almost as if it was designed so that when King Sigurd’s spies got their hands on it, Sigurd would be gravely disappointed. The only thing to be plundered was a large island of ice. He would not be able to see an entire continent was up for grabs and all the murdering he could do. That would wait until Columbus.

The nay sayers will not be deterred though. To them this map is still a fake. There must be more here or they will have their way and what a tragic loss that would be. There is more. As said before, it is a virtual treasure map.

Here is the next task. Find the extra fold line. Now one must ask why would someone make a beautiful and perfect copy of a map to pass off as an antiquity and make oodles of money but ruin it by folding it where there was no obvious reason or need?!?

Stranger still they had the foresight to fold it in the right place to see… Yes. What else is there to see? Where is this line?

Find the line first. It is just to the left of the fold/damage line running through the first letters of ‘Apusia’ and ‘Maori.’ The first is supposed to refer to Prussia and the second was never fixed to a location. One should be able to see immediately that an anagram begins: ‘A map …usia ori.’ If one looks at this long enough, with the hundreds of other anagrams to be found, one realizes it says ‘A map (of) O. Use IA (for) RI.’ The IA refers to the last letters of the words Apusia and Maori and RI to the place to be depicted.

Fold line on map through Apusia and Maori.

There are other anagrams to be found in these few letters but they do not produce like some of the other legends. In the letters of Greenland, spelled as Gronelada, there are more than thirty in basic Anglo-Saxon words. That is another point to note. We may hazard to guess that Oystein used basic English because he was sure Sigurd and friends would not be able to read it.

So, the fold line that appears through the two words is misplaced by a quarter inch. When the actual map is assembled this does not seem to make that big of a difference.

To be continued! Next post in about a week.

Last Post – Next Post

The Vinland Map maker’s signature. The map and it’s mirror image form the letters O and M.

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** 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.

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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.

 

The Vinland Map: A Cipher – Part I

B.L. Freeborn © December 2025

Vinland Map. Photo by Yale University.

The Vinland Map is probably one of the most important documents from the 12th century ever to have been written. Since the nay-sayers have once again had their way, the only remaining copy has been stowed away to be forgotten.

Raymond Clemens, a curator at Yale University’s Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library has declared it a fake based on ink studies. You can read all the negativity elsewhere.

But perhaps Mr. Clemens can explain why it is so very boldly signed?

Perhaps he noticed it is a lengthy and vastly complicated narrative written in anagrams?

After having studied the anagrams for over a year, this author saw something, something very important, something deliciously important. Care to find out? Of course you do. You are not going to want to miss this one. It is so full of gems, one could say it is a treasure map!

Fortunately, there are copies to be had. Here is a link to an enhanced photo of the one and only perfect copy still in existence. Got that clue. The Vinland Map, the one Clemens would toss is a perfect copy. So, when you view said map remember you are going to need three perfect copies. And you will need three perfect copies in – mirror image – to see what is actually there. (Print with the thinnest paper you have.) OK. Perhaps you don’t need all six copies to start but you certainly need one of each unless you want to go blind looking at it against a mirror.

First task – find the author’s signature. Here is a clue:

There are one hundred random capitals in the legends. There are only two repeated legends: Legend #59: mare Indicum and Legend #60: Mare Occeanum.
These have capitals: I OM.

You are correct to ask who is OM. If one studies the largest legend, in the upper left corner which is written in Latin, one will find it talks about Vinland, hence the map’s name. This English translation is from ‘The Vinland Map and the Tartar Relation’ (VMTR); Yale University Press, 1965, pg. 140.

1 ‘By God’s will, after a long voyage from the island of Greenland to the south toward
2 the farthest remaining parts of the western ocean sea, sailing
3 to the south amid ice, the companions Bjarni and Leif Eiriksson discovered a new land, extremely fertile
4 and even having vines, which island they named Vinland. Henricus,
5 legate of the Apostolic See and bishop of Greenland and the neighboring regions,
6 arrived in this truly vast and very rich land, in the last year of our most blessed father Pascal in the name of God the
7 Almighty. He remained a long time summer and winter and later returned toward Greenland
8 northeastward and then in the most humble obedience to the will of his superiors
9 proceeded…’

R.A. Skelton, Thomas E. Marston and George O. Painter were the first to study the map in 1957. When they published VMTR in 1965, they believed in its authenticity. They thought Bishop Henricus was during the time of King Sigurd the Crusader of Norway (circa 1118). Skelton and co-authors made a small error. This Sigurd co-ruled with his older brother King Oystein Magnusson. This King died coincidently the same year as Henricus in 1123. The throng in attendance at his funeral was unbelievably large. He was an exceptional man and very well loved. But read that closing line of the legend again. “ …then in the most humble obedience to the will of his superiors proceeded…” Who was his superior? Is he referring to the Pope, God or Sigurd?

Here’s the thing about these two brothers. There was no love. Sigurd’s weapon of choice was the sword and Oystein’s was the pen. As a boy Sigurd traveled with his father, King Magnus Barefoot and was made King of the Isles at age nine. He became King of Norway with his two brothers in 1103. The youngest brother died in 1115 leaving the two elder to co-rule. As an adult, Sigurd traveled as a crusader. We know today what that entailed.

Oystein also wanted to travel. But because of the Bans against the Old Gods he could not freely travel to his desired destination. In order to travel there he fabricated a persona named Henricus. Then he used his kingly pen and powers to declare Henricus a Bishop and sent him as the legend above says to Vinland.

Where then did Sigurd think the King was during this period of time? Evidently, if the anagrams say what they seem to say, he was touring the British Isles. He just needed a few friends to lie about his whereabouts while he was gone. He was so beloved by everyone, he was welcome everywhere, except perhaps by King Henry of England. Hence, the moniker: Henri – cus. Yeah, Henry started out loving Oystein but then maybe not so much.

So, before this story continues, find the map makers signature.

To be continued! Next post in about a week.

Previous PostNext Post

 

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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.

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The Wawa Stone and its Viking Ship

B.L. Freeborn © August 2025, Updated September 2025                     (Full article PDF here.)

The Wawa Runestone is an excellent topic for study. It is located in Wawa, Ontario above Lake Superior. More information and photos are available at OCARE, Ontario Centre for Archaelogical Research & Education.

Image from OCARE.

The runestone is composed of two parts. There is an extensive inscription in runes on the left and higher up on the rock to the right is a ship in a Viking style. Dr. Henrik Williams was first to study the inscription and will be publishing a paper on the topic. In the meantime, a video is available where he discusses the stone with David Pompeani. (YouTube link here.) In that discussion, he states that often a runic inscription has no relation to the art presented and that the two parts may have been done by different people. That seems to be true here. Indeed, the reader can see easily that the long inscription was done with a sharper, finer tool while the ship was done with a more blunt tool and a much stronger arm. Dr. Williams has identified the inscription as a protestant version of the Lord’s Prayer in modern Swedish. The inscriber did not date the inscription which leaves room for some discussion. It is believed to be of 17th to 19th century origin.

Image from OCARE – Long inscription on left side of Wawa Stone.

As far as the right side with the Viking ship, Dr. Williams could not comment on it, nor did he know the meaning of the X’s. Many would presume these X’s are burial crosses but that implies Christianity, and the Vikings were not necessarily Christian despite their supposed conversion. People converted at knife point are seldom true believers. What then did the artist intend to convey with the crosses? There are no runes present to give any further clues.

Image from OCARE – Ship on right.

Let this not deter us from further study. Notice the artist has presented us with two groups of crosses separated by the ship which implies the number of X’s has some significance. There are five on the left and ten on the right. The number of people shown in the ship appears to be seventeen but others count sixteen. This gives 17, 10 and 5 which is hardly enlightening. However, on closer inspection one notices that the 5 X’s are so arranged to provide two groups of 3 and 2. This grouping then provides 5,3,2. (See image below.)

Closer inspection of the group of ten on the right provides 5 X’s in the first horizontal line, 3 in the next and 2 in the last so that 5,3,2 repeats. This is significant. The Perpetual Easter Calendar/Table was used in the Catholic Church from early times and was still in use long after the Viking era ended. Since calendars were not available, a device was invented similar to a slide rule that allowed the user to determine on what day of the week the first Sunday would fall for each year (known as the Dominical or Day Letter). It repeats every 532 years. (See PDF – Easter Table.) The artist may not have known his letters/runes but he knew his numbers. By providing the 532 in each group of X’s the artist makes it clear there is a date here.

Men and X’s highlighted in white.

To obtain a date from the Table one needs a Line Number #, Golden Number (numbers within the table) and the Dominical Letter/Day Letter (DL) which runs along the top. A proper dating should repeat the date in someway in a more straight forward manner. Presumably, this is the purpose of the X’s.

If one uses the numbers 5, 10 and 17 as provided by the groupings there is no match within the table. However, if the X’s were to announce a date is present, then the 17 men must imply the date in some way. Perhaps it is 1017,1117,1217, etc. But which century?

Year 1217 is on Line #3 with Golden Number (GN) 2 and Dominical Letter (DL) #1. These numbers are provided easily by the three groups of numbers, two of which are X’s and one of which is men. This makes this date a strong possibility. However, it is more likely they refer to year 1123. The Spirit Pond Stones speak of Henricus who was the Bishop in the Vinland Map. He traveled to Vinland circa 1116 and died presumably in 1123, based on church records for his replacement.

The number 23 is easily found in more than one way by the positioning of the X’s. The year 1123 has Table numbers: Line #19, GN 3 and DL # 7. The value 19 is not represented but the right hand grouping of X’s can be easily separated into 3 and 7.

Other dates were studied with mixed results. One might say that the artist did not mean for us to use the calendar to derive the date. But the artist certainly used the number 532 to alert us to the presence of dates.

Both 1117 and 1123 are strongly supported by the art. Indeed, they are both supported by the Spirit Pond Stones (link to study), the Feather Stone of northeast Canada (link here) and 1117 is supported by a runestone found in the Newport Tower (link to study). Both of these dates refer to the arrival and departure of Bishop Henricus in Vinland as mentioned in the Vinland Map.  According to both the Spirit Pond Long Inscription Stone and the Vinland Map, he explored up the St. Lawrence and down into Hudson Bay. The proximity of Wawa to Hudson Bay should be noted. The 1117 and 1123 would then be commemorative dates. They mark the beginning of exploration of northern North America by the Vikings. Continued exploration should have followed which explains who may have carved this ship and suggests when.

The unknown artist commemorates
Henricus and his Viking sailors’ exploration
in 1117-1123.

Sadly, virtually everything found in North America that might indicate any European explorer from the dawn of time tread here before Columbus has been declared a fake, destroyed or intentionally forgotten. One such notable work that discusses this topic is “The Rediscovery of Lost America” by Arlington Mallery and Mary Roberts Harrison, 1979. This work has also been denigrated but if one takes the time to read his references, then his work speaks volumes.

What then happened to the Vikings / Norse / Normans who came to America? Why has history forgotten them? There is a simple answer. If these people were anti-Catholic, then it would have been essential to keep the continent and their colonies a secret. If they lived very simple lives in longhouses and communities, then they left little behind. If they remained in contact, on the sly, with northern Europe, then the Black Death came with the sailors and wiped them out in the late 1300’s as well as any memory of them that existed in Northern Europe.

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Rök Rune Stone and its ciphers

From Wikipedia.

B.L. Freeborn © October 2024

If you like old runic riddles this one is endless….. The story it tells is beyond expectation.

“Aft Vamoð stãnda runaʀ þaʀ…”(Holmberg) begins the Rök Rune Stone of Ödeshög, Sweden. It consists of approximately 770 runes and is decorated with obvious ciphers. From the time of its discovery in the 1600’s in the wall of an adjoining building at the Röks kyrka (church) built in the 12th century and complete unveiling in 1862, each new investigator has written their views, and thereby, has pushed our understanding of its intent and meaning further along.

The attached (pdf) is a thorough study of the ciphers on the stone. Below is one of the more clever ciphers for the reader’s enjoyment. Spoiler alert – the solution follows so take care when scrolling down.

Excerpt from the study:
§308
The single line shown in the image here, that runs up the long side on the right, is an amazing cipher. It has thirty-six runes which are presumably straightforward. There are no spaces between the symbols or word breaks. It was translated by Holmberg  et al. ,pg.22-23) to read:

From Wikipedia.

As given: kuta sinum skialti ub fatlaþʀ skati marika

As transliterated: guta sinum, skialdi umb fatlaðʀ, skati mæringa.

As translated: “…his shield strapped, foremost of the famous.”

Let us look at this again.

As given: KUTASINUMSKIALTIUBFATLAÞʀSKATIMARIKA

And spaced out as: KUT AS I NUM SKIALTIUBFATLAÞʀSKATIMARIKA

“Cut as I num”…ber? Which leaves one to question if this is actually in English and if so, what are the numbers here?

From Wikipedia

SOLUTION FOLLOWS IMAGES……

 


SOLUTION FOLLOWS ……

The total sum checks so the transcription seems accurate but there is a notable lack of 56’s or other familiar numbers within the text. However, it does begin with two groups of 6 runes that sum to 50. Obviously, 6 + 50 = 56. After trying several shift ciphers to no avail the riddler’s hint was taken and the following was formed:

Now the reader may find in this square:
CUT AS I ASK, CUT, ASK four times and
SKA, an anagram of ask.

Along the diagonal find:
CUT L TA ⇒ CUT AT L

There is no question this is in English. Taking the script again and trying to do as asked find:

K U T A S I N U M S K I A L
T I U B F A T L
A Þ ʀ S K A T I M A R I K A

Not much better, but certain words do stand out such as the double AT and to their right
is LI as in ‘lie’. Immediately above is INU or ‘in now, I now or in U.’ The ‘U’ we shall interpret as ‘cup.’ Then vertically we can also read U LI ⇒ ‘cup lie.’

There is a whole slew of other words in English present such as: TI (tie); UB (web); FAT (fate); FATL (fatal); SIN (sin); SKAT (sheat); NUM (niman-grasp); SKIAL (shell), MA (more); RIK (rick – stack) and KATI in reverse is  ‘I take’.

Maybe one has to really ‘cut as I ask’ and ‘take’; or remove and take away as directed which leaves:
K U T A S I N U M S K I A L
T I U B F A T L
A Þ ʀ S K A T I M A R I K A ➟➟ I M A R I K A ??

In Younger Futhark I’s are also E’s. This is then an anagram of AMERIKA or America.

The phrase then reads: ‘I lie now in …America’ or ‘In cup at America.’

From Wikipedia.

  • References:

Holmberg, Per; Gräslund, Bo; Sundqvist, Olof; Williams, Henrik (2020). “The Rök Runestone and the End of the World” (PDF). Futhark: International Journal of Runic Studies. 9–10: 7–38. doi:10.33063/diva-401040.

Previous Post

Next Post

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**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.

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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.

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Kensington Rune Stone: A New Translation

B.L. Freeborn © January 2023

This paper is entirely in the pdf here. It is too long and complicated to be suitable for a blog post. It begins…

Kensington rune stone with runes traced.

Table of Contents

Introduction………………………….2
Before The ‘I’…………………………3
The Lines……………………………….5
The Numbers……………………..12
Calendar Dating…………………15
The ‘Skip’ Cipher…………………16
The ‘End O’ Cipher……………..17
The Telestic and Acrostic…..19
Finding the Lairs ………………..22
Gods and more…………………..25
From Lairs to Layers…………..26
Typical Baalist Statements…29
Summary Translation…………32
Conclusion…………………………..35
References……………………………36
Tables…………………………………….37

Kensington rune stone side text traced.

Introduction

It is time for a new translation of the Kensington Rune Stone from Minnesota. The provenance is known, over studied, over debated and grown dull. The skill of the craftsman is superb. The cuts are clear, clean, and precise. The major problem is the time honored translation. It cries fake! Here’s the gist of it – so many people have looked at it – but not. The following is an entirely new approach to studying this artifact. It is not the intention of this translation to end all debate – only to point out a few things have been overlooked. What is revealed is … well … revealing!

The old translation usually reads as follows:

‘8 Goths and 22 Norwegians on journey of exploration from Vinland over the west. We made camp by 2 slides one days journey north from this stone. We went and fished one day. After we came home (we) found 10 men red with blood and dead. AVM. Save us from evil. (We) have 10 men by (the) sea to look after our ship(s) 14 days journey from this island. Year 1362.’

Text Transliterated maintaining position.

The transliteration used here:

Front:
8 : GÖTER : OK : 22 : NORRMEN : BO :
I : OPDAGELSEFARD : FRO :
VINLAND : OF : VEST : VI :
HADE : LÄGER : WED : 2 : SK(IL)AR : EN :
DAGS : RISE : NORR : FRO : DENO : STEN :
WI : WAR : OK : FISKE : EN : DAGH : ÄPTIR :
WI : KOM : HEM : FAN : 10 : MAN : RÖDE :
AF : BLOD : OG : DED : AVM :
FRÄELSE : AF : ILL(ÜIG)

Side text transliterated maintaining position.

Side:
HÄR : 10 : MANS : WE : HAWET : AT : SE :
ÄPTIR : WORE : SKIP : 14 : DAGH : RISE :
FROM : DENO : ÖH : AHR : 1362 :
RI

This is called the plain text reading and the accepted translation is as seen above. This is what the average reader was supposed to get out of it. Behind this façade is a full and living story. It tells of a journey by a people we never knew existed and of their beliefs. It is told with humor and emotion. For your enjoyment and study – the really real – Kensington Rune Stone’s story……

The translation ………………… see pdf for continuation.

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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 postPDF 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.

 

The Long Debated Bourne Stone

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 postPDF 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.

– – – –

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

The Shawnee Runestone: A Sneaky Little Riddle

B.L. Freeborn © January 2023, Updated January 2025                      (PDF version.)

Photo by Heironymous Rowe at Wikipedia.

The Shawnee Runestone was found in 1969 by three children in Shawnee, Oklahoma. It is on display at Robert S. Kerr Museum near Poteau, Oklahoma.

Arc on Kensington Stone

The shape of this stone alone suggests it might be genuine. It is round oblong and out of the right side there is an ark shaped chip. (Assuming of course that some expert did not chip it away to prove the age of the stone as has been done to the Spirit Pond Stones, the ‘In Camera’ stone (post) and the Kensington Stone which was bored through.)

The shape and ark suggests a Pagan / Baalist origin. The chipped ark shape is seen on the Kensington just below the first line.

The inscription is to the casual observer just five runes. There are two suggested readings: MLDOK and MIDOK.

The present decipherment began with MLDOK. Observe the words: DO ⇒ do, LOK ⇒ look, MK ⇒ make. From previous experience the appearance of ‘look’ suggests a shift cipher which was attempted but was fruitless. So looking again one sees the L might actually be an E or I. It is unusually connected to the first rune and the third. This forms three connected runes followed by two detached runes. This suggests 32 which implies 5.65².✓ This is significant since its validity lies substantially with certain numbers appearing. The reader is directed to Validating North American Runestones (see PDF list below) for a better understanding. In summary of this article, with respect to numbers, 56 and 792 must be present. They are typically found by studying the number values of the runes (gematria). The numbers 76, 51, 90 and 86 are often found as well. If it is of a Norse origin, or most northern people origin, (which means Viking to many) it should also have an Easter Calendar date imbedded (see Landsverk). The true rune master was able to encode his/her name as well. Can these five letters produce? Absolutely!

Alf Mongé felt the I was an E. His decipherment can be found in Syverson (pg. 94). He was primarily interested in dates so his decipherment did not comment on anything else for this stone.

If it is an I, then it is MIDOK. The small words I DO MaKe can be found. If an E, MEDOK, it is ME DO MaKe. If it is an E, another obvious word is formed that is very surprising. Runes are read from both right to left and left to right. Read it from the left and it says ME DO and from the right it says clearly CODE so that it reads: ME DO CODE.

A closer look is now required. Note the top of the O in the photo above is not fully connected. The photo in Syversen actually looks like a complete single rune. (This is probably why Mongé did not see the possibility this is two runes.) As two separate runes it is an X and ∧ which are G and K respectively. This makes the inscription: MEDGK – with K above the G.

This is now 5 runes with a 6th or 56.✓ This confirms this was to be found. KG ⇒ keg is another typical Baalist word. But there is more…

Note that the mysterious second letter is actually an H. It is a bindrune with the D. This makes the inscription: M(HE)DGK and K. Now the words HE ⇒ he, HEM ⇒ hem, and MED ⇒ made, are apparent. Looking further while including the O note KOME ⇒ come.

Usinf Elder Futhark number substitution (See charts at end.):

 

Only the final sum is good.✓

Then in MHDGK/K or 20,9,23,7,6,6 sum from H to end is 51.✓ This is the only 51 found.

As a bindrune HD does not have to appear in that order. It can just as easily be DH but the H is attached to the M. If all three can switch then perhaps it becomes DMHGK/K or numerically:
23,20,9,7,6/6. The three underlined form 7920 in reverse.✓ The sum then becomes 65 / 6 which is very similar to 56.5.✓

Since reversals have been noted, MHDOK sums to 82 or 28 in reverse. (28 x 2 = 56)✓

Mongé obtained the date 1024 from the inscription. The more likely date is 1124 based on the Long Inscription Stone from Spirit Pond, the Newport Tower and Vinland Map. His date of 1024 is easily explained. He used Day Letter (DL) 6 and Rati (Line #) 15. He saw the O (24) as the year. He did not see it as separate runes since in his image it looks joined.

The easily read MEDOK is 20,19,23,24,6. Here see line #19 which begins at year 1112 so ⇒years 1123 and 1124 with day letters 7 and 6.✓

Such is the hazard of pinpointing dates by this method. The final decision lies with the reader.

And yet there appears to be more… Notice that the MEH hides another rune. There is a U !! Now the Baalist riddle is complete with a hem, hidden cup, two daggers, X marks the spot and an ark all on a round stone. Surely this cannot have been created by any ‘modern’ person!

It then translates as:

A hem surrounds the hidden cup from the two daggers.
There are kegs where it came. At the arcs.
Do go 1124

 

PREVIOUS POST—  —- NEXT POST 

From Wikipedia

 

Similar Articles by the Same Author (PDF’s) 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 postPDF 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

Gordon, Cyrus, Riddles in History, Crown Publishers, Inc. New York, 1974.

Landsverk, O.G., Runic Records of the Norsemen in America, Erik J. Friis, Publisher, Rushford, MN, 1974.

Landsverk, O.G., Ancient Norse Messages, Norseman Press, Glendale, California, 1969.

Mongé, Alf & O.G. Landsverk, Norse Medieval Cryptography in Runic Carving

Syversen, Earl, Norse Runic Inscriptions: with their Long-forgotten Cryptography, The Vine Hill Press, Sebastopol, California, 1979.

– – – – – –
Liestol, Aslak – Derogatory article of Alf Mongé’s work: http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/41/v41i01p034-042.pdf….
and…. Landsverk responded to these comments in Ancient Norse Messages pg. 126-129; and often in Runic Records of the Norsemen in America.
– – – – – –

The Spirit Pond Rune Stones: Deciphering the Amulet and Short Inscription

B. L. Freeborn © November 2022

This an excerpt from: Deciphering the Spirit Pond, Nomans Land and Narragansett Runic Inscriptions –  See list below for PDF version.

Amulet and  Short SP-2

Introduction

In the paper entitled “Validating North American Runic Inscriptions” (see PDF list below) , by this author, the Spirit Pond Rune stones were discussed briefly. It became apparent that there was too much information on the Spirit Pond stones to include there. The previous post discussed the Map Stone, SP-1, and the long Inscription Stone, SP-3 is discussed in the next post. The amulet and short SP-2 are discussed below.  The Leif Erikson (Post) inscription from Nomans Land and the Narragansett (Post) were discussed previously. These six represent the best runic inscriptions found on the east coast of North America.

Apologies are given in advance. This is end to end numbers which makes for poor reading. Do not let the number work deter one from discovering what lays within the inscriptions. The essence can be grasped regardless of the level of interest in the math.

Reading the first paper (PDF listed below) is essential to understanding the importance of the numeric information that is given here and followed by ✓ marks. There are four stones from Spirit Pond, Maine. The Amulet and Short Inscription Stone are studied here.

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Spirit Pond Amulet. Image Lenik, 2009.

Amulet

The amulet stone which is designed to be worn is part of the Spirit Pond Stone collection. On the front side is the number 1010 which is presumably the year. The question remains whether it is a commemorative year or the year it was originally devised. Either way the 10’s are composed of a line and a circle which repeats the idea of the Ankh. Above the date are three runic letters, VIN, assumed to represent Vinland. There are then 5 runic figures on this side. The 6th is a hatched symbol for 5 so 56.5 repeats.✓

The runes in the center stand for V I N with numbers 2, 9 and 8. Their sum as 19 is of no interest. But if one sees it as a 2 ̸ 8 then 28 is found.✓ (See Rune chart at end for number equivalents.)

The 10 and 10 sum to 20 so the sum of the 5, 19 and 20 is 44 which interestingly is the latitude of Spirit Pond.

Then by summing 5 and 2, a 7 can be found which provides 7 9 and 20 or 7920.✓

Easy enough, but this leaves no apparent use for the 8 except that 89 x 89 is 7921?!✓ And a square of sides 5.65 has a diagonal of 8.✓

Lastly, here there are 3 letter runes and 2 numbers or 32.✓

The Cross below the circle (string hole) may repeat the idea of the Ankh again. The cross suggests this person had converted to Christianity or wanted to appear Christian despite the Pagan message on the other side.

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Photo Scott Wolter ©2009. Used with permission.

The Short SP-2

This is the short inscription stone from Spirit Pond known as SP-2. Its inscription is brief having 8 runes on the top line and 4 on the second line with 3 on the left and 1 on the right. One rune on each line is a bindrune (two or more runes joined together) positioned directly over each other.

There are 3 words on 2 lines for 32.✓ The sum of the top line is 74. The sum of the second line is 51.✓ The total sum is 125. The first number is 8 and the second bindrune is 9. Recall 89 x 89 = 7921.✓ The sum from 15 to the last 6 is 40.✓ The first number is 8 and the last number on either line is 6 suggesting 86.✓ The sum on the left bottom is 45. The sum between the 6’s is 45. Add a 6 from either side and obtain 51 again.✓ The R and K adjoining each other provide 56.✓

The : is directly under 15 and it is followed by 4 and 15. Year 1002 is on line 15 of the Easter Table.  **It has GN 15 and DL 4. This date follows the discovery of Vinland by Leif Erikson by a year, so it is possible. Also, one can see in 6 11 15 4 15 6 series that 19 appears twice and is proceeded by 17 and followed by 6. This refers to 1118 on the Easter Table. The commemoration date on the others was 1010.

This can then be dated to either year. It is the reader’s choice. Once the date is plainly stated then one can see it in the text ‘10 :’ or 10 0 2! The year of Leif’s discovery! The year 1116/1117 is the usual date of Henricus in Vinland.

As far as what it says…it reads like it is straight Baalist – strange but true. The second line is an anagram for KILSA which was seen on the other Spirit Pond stones. Taking it bit by bit find:

N over S. North went south.

(ÆRIL) ⇒RÆL I ⇒ roll eye.

KS over A. ⇒ SAK ⇒ sack or sagged.

The L over two dots. ⇒ two dots suggests a missing letter U so this becomes LU or low.

Then it is ÆL over K ⇒ cull. The last two in reverse KL ⇒ kill.

North went south as the eye rolled and sagged. It is low. It culled and killed.

This sounds like he is describing the apocalypse or perhaps some element of Ragnarök. His devotion to Baal seems complete but what of his name?

It might be helpful to see the Æ as O. Now notice there are two anagrams for ‘look’ spelled LÆK or LOK. So we should do as directed and look. Mongé points out this implies a shift cipher. A shift cipher implies instead of ‘a’ use ‘b,’ instead of ‘b’ use ‘c,’ etc. or in reverse. If a shift cipher is applied (shift each letter to the preceding) find:

N (Æ+R)KS L Æ L K ⇒ H (Th Æ) R A B Th B R

S (I+L) A : K ⇒             A ( N B) I : R

which is not productive. But if you make a mistake and substitute M for B (the following rune instead of preceding) then…

H (Th Æ) R A M Th M R

A ( N M) I : R

then one can read: hath name thar (there) I am thr (there)? This suggests it is a forward/reverse cipher. After some struggle one finds that only the bindrunes are used.

Lothær inscribed this stone in honor of Lief, 1102, and Henricus,1118.

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This series continues with the long Inscription Stone.

**(Easter Table dating and explanations can be found in any of Landsverk’s books referenced below.)

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Younger Futhark Runic Alphabet

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 postPDF 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

Gordon, Cyrus, Riddles in History, Crown Publishers, Inc. New York, 1974.

Landsverk, O.G., Runic Records of the Norsemen in America, Erik J. Friis, Publisher, Rushford, MN, 1974.

Landsverk, O.G., Ancient Norse Messages, Norseman Press, Glendale, California, 1969.

Lenik, Edward J., Making Pictures in Stone: American Indian Rock Art of the Northeast, 2009.

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.

Derogatory article by Aslak Liestol of Alf Mongé’s work: http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/41/v41i01p034-042.pdf  and….

…Landsverk responded to these comments in Ancient Norse Messages pg. 126-129; and often in Runic Records of the Norsemen in America.

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Deciphering the Spirit Pond Rune Stones: Map Stone, SP-1

B. L. Freeborn © November 2022, Updated Dec. 2025

Map Stone – Front. Photo Scott Wolter ©2009. Used with permission.

Map stone – obverse. Photo Scott Wolter ©2009. Used with permission.

The SP-1, Map stone

This an excerpt from: Deciphering the Spirit Pond, Nomans Land and Narragansett Runic Inscriptions –  See PDF list below.

In the paper entitled “Validating North American Runic Inscriptions” (PDF below) , by this author, the Spirit Pond Rune stones were discussed briefly. Reading this first is essential to understanding the importance of the numeric information that is given here and followed by ✓ marks. SP-1, the Map Stone, is discussed first. Its front has a map of Hoop, Maine and the reverse has ten pictograms.

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Map Stone Obverse. Runes and pictograms traced in black.

SP-1, Map Stone, Back

The stone has a significant shape which can be seen from this side. It is shaped like an axe. The left upper corner is shaped like a crater. Both of these ideas are important to the story of Baal.

The back of the stone has eight✓ runes centered at the top between two pictures which immediately suggests 28.✓ There are two pictures on the top line and eight below in the group or 28.✓ The symbol Wolter suggested (X with hook) meant 40 degrees latitude is present next to a hatch mark symbol. The 40 implies 56 because a square of sides 40 has a diagonal of 56.56.✓ To its right the hatches can be counted two ways evidently. As he did and find 44 which is the latitude of Spirit Pond; and as others do, find 48 which is the latitude of Newfoundland Island.

The runes at the top center are transcribed as M I L T I A K I and correspondingly the numbers in Futhark are: 14 9 15 12 9 10 6 9.

The sum is a sad and useless 84. However, the sum from 14 to 10 is 69 which is repeated by the last two numbers 6 and 9. This is essentially the longitude of Spirit Pond. The correct modern coordinates are 43.75 ̊ N, 69.81 ̊ W with respect to the Greenwich Meridian which they were apparently using. The location of Newfoundland is 48 ̊ N, 56.5 ̊ W.✓ Imagine that.

The translation of the runes on SP-1 reverse has certainly not satisfied anyone. It appears it can be broken up as follows: MIL TI (A) KI. This is in simple Old English…mill tie (56) key. From this Mongé derived the message: LIT A MIK or ‘seen by me’. Or perhaps it is actually stating who wrote and inscribed (let) this stone. Read in both directions: ⇒ Me let…I Aki…… I tell ⇐. Altogether it says:

Mill tie A key seen by me. I Aki designed and carved.

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Spirit Pond Map Stone, SP-1, front, with runes and images traced in black.

SP-1, Map Stone, Front

SP-1 or the map stone, front is a sheer pleasure to study. It transliterates easily and the typical translation is shown below.

The Numbers and Dates:

The sum of HOOB(P) is 28.✓ The sum of TKA is 28.✓ The sum of TUA is 24.

Very similar to the Kensington and the Kingigtorssuaq Inscription, the first letter, H, has value 7 and there is a 2 and 9 on the following line or 792.✓ The next numbers (8,15,10, 8,2) sum to 43.✓ The last two are 8 and 2 or 28 in reverse.✓ On the left there are 3 word groups on 2 lines or 32.✓ On the right there are 4 word groups on 3 lines or 43.✓

(This is an excerpt so there is information on dating missing. Briefly, inscriptions can be dated using the Easter Tables which provides a Rati/Line #, Golden Number (GN) and Day Letter (DL) for each year. This is explained in any of Landsverk / Mongé’s books.)

Mongé dates this to 6 October 1123 using the phrase (I+L) A K . (He used L= 14.) He presumes it is an anagram for SIKLA (sailed). Anagrams of SIKLA are also used on SP-2 and SP-3. He dated all the inscriptions then to that date. The associated numbers are (23)10 6. Note the S or 11 is missing. There is a hint in the two lines above it which use 11 runes. If Mongé is correct and L= 14 then the sum is 39 but the 11 (S) is missing. Take the hint and subtract an 11 from 39 and find 28.✓ He uses the rune count of 3 and 7 on line one to prove the GN and DL. Furthermore, the riddle master no doubt assumed the solver would find the date 6 October in the remaining numbers of (I+L)AK. The DN table (See Easter Tables) indicates this is 79 days to the end of the year. 79 and 23 from the joined runes creates 7923 and this is a very clever 792✓ which makes it an unlikely date.

If L = 15 then the sum of (I+L)AK is 40.✓ By similar reasoning the year becomes 1124. The GN for year 1124 is 4. The DL is 6. Both 4 and 6 repeat in the text. This makes 1124 a plausible year as well. As a date, it is likely the year when Henricus sailed to ‘Kilsa’; left the settlement for other duties elsewhere; or, as implied by the Vinland map, he passed away.

The GN for the stated year 1011 is 5 and the DL is 7. The Rati is #15. Although there are two 7’s there are no 5’s making it unlikely this is the date of the inscription.

*All of the words in the right word group are either misspelled or anagrams which suggests there is something hidden here. This group is usually taken to mean two days travel by sea since there is an arrow. Two days to the north is Nova Scotia. Two days to the south is Narragansett Bay where lies another rune stone (once at the shoreline). It is as if there were other settlements along the coast.

A closer look at these runes is warranted. Note the riddle master gives a hint. They refer to time (day). It is likely then that this group is where the date is embedded.

The right side numbers:

Note the repeating 12’s and that 10,6 and 6,10 are in a group and sum to 16. The 10,6 repeats in the last word. The 2 and 10 sum to 12. The 19th line of the Easter Table begins with year 1112 and year 1117 has GN 16 and DL 1,2 because of Leap Year. Checking year 1006, the GN is 19, DL is 6 which is unsatisfactory. The likely year then is 1117 which is confirmed again below.

The first two runes of HOOP sum to 11 and the last two to 17 which seems to confirm the date as 1117. In the Long Inscription stone 1117 was the implied date of Henricus’ arrival. So then, this stone implies the Hoop settlement began in 1011 and the author wrote this one hundred years later in 1117 or so. Archeological dating suggests it was active in the 1400’s. (Wolter, pg. 80) The area is still known as Hoop.

Mill tie A key seen by me 1117.

I Aki designed and carved.

 

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Previous Post          Next Post

Younger Futhark Runic Alphabet

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 postPDF 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

Gordon, Cyrus, Riddles in History, Crown Publishers, Inc. New York, 1974.

Landsverk, O.G., Runic Records of the Norsemen in America, Erik J. Friis, Publisher, Rushford, MN, 1974.

Landsverk, O.G., Ancient Norse Messages, Norseman Press, Glendale, California, 1969.

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.

Wolter, Scott F, The Hooked X: Key to the Secret History of North America, North Star Press of St. Cloud, Inc., St. Cloud, Minnesota 2009.

Derogatory article by Aslak Liestol of Alf Mongé’s work: http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/41/v41i01p034-042.pdf  and…. Landsverk responded to these comments in Ancient Norse Messages pg. 126-129; and often in Runic Records of the Norsemen in America.

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The Nomans Land – Leif Eriksson Inscription

B.L Freeborn © December 2022  Updated July 2025  (PDF version here.)

(Excerpt from: Deciphering the Spirit Pond, Nomans Land and Narragansett Runic Inscriptions, see PDF list below. )

This study would not be complete without some comment on the Leif Erikson inscription found on a rock off the shore of Nomans Land Island, adjacent to Martha’s Vineyard. Photos are scant which severely limits any study. Typically, it is considered a fraud because it contains a letter M or Roman numeral in the date. However, the Spirit Pond SP-3 inscription stone (following post) used the letter M in the final date and it was also used to substitute for a runic M in the center pictogram. Therefore, the use of M1 to suggest a date of 1001 is wholly consistent with it being a valid inscription. The Spirit Pond stones were not found for some 40 years after common knowledge of the Leif inscription so they could not have inspired the M1 date. Furthermore, consider the constraints of using only the runic numbers to indicate a date of 1001 as seen in the SP-2 (following post). There is simply no zero which makes an M very useful. Certainly any educated person of the year 1001 was in the habit of using M1 as a date since Roman numerals were known then throughout Europe. ‘Modern graffiti’ would not use such a strange arrangement. The zero is so common place today it would have been used without a thought. Indeed, it should have been 1003 since that was the date the then current encyclopedias stated Leif discovered Vinland.(Holand, 1944)

Images from Holand, 1944.

The top line of the inscription is straight forward. It consists of four runes spelling out LIIF and eight more spelling out IRIKSSĄN. This is accepted to be Leif Eriksson. The date follows M1 (1001) and then the next line begins clearly with Th I and that is where confusion sets in. The third rune is made to appear as an N in some white marked images. A photo from Holand (1944) has a chalked image which clearly does not show an N. Holand reports that Professor Delabarre in 1935 examined the stone carefully and found no additional markings on the upright staves of the runes after the first Th. He most certainly would have reported an N. Photos however can often reveal more than the eye can see. The first five runes are readable as: Th I ʀ TI. In the enlarged image note the short height of the third line and an arrow shape on top of the fourth can be made out. The remaining group of lines followed by the four on the fourth appear to be just lines or I’s. Holand’s explanation was that Greenlanders often left incomplete runes as part of magical incantations. Mongé and others disagreed.

Erikson is spelled with two S’s in the old Icelandic manner. Each name should be followed by an ʀ but these do not appear. The doubled S and deleted ʀ provides for the correct number of letters and sums as seen below. Other differences and some very good reasons for them are elucidated by Holand. The inscription then reads (retaining letter placement):

There are 12 runes on the first line in 2 groups of 4 and 8. The sum of Leif is 34 while Eriksson equals 63. Their total sum is 97 or 79 in reverse.✓ The second line is 14, 9 = 23; or 14,1 = 15. Finding the difference then 97 – 15 = 82 or 28 in reverse.✓ Then 79 followed by 23 is 7923 or 792.✓ (**See below for more information on numbers and meanings.)

Many critics note IRIK is misspelled but by this spelling it gives |5|6 which becomes 56. ✓ The RI pattern was seen on the SP-3 inscription stone which implied 5 + 1 = 6 ⇒ 56. More importantly, it can be seen as far away as Sweden on the famous Rök runestone.
Its double, 112 (56 x 2), is found by adding the sum of the first two lines or 97 and 15 = 112.✓
The S as 11 also supplies 56 since 5+6 = 11. The two S’s are then repeating 56’s.✓
There are 14 I’s in total. Recall 14 doubled is 28 and doubled again is 56.✓

The third line if read: ThI ʀ T I III provides ⇒ 3,9,16,12,9 111 (or 9,9,9).
ThI ʀ: 3,9,16 is 28. T I: is 12,9. If the TI is in the Elder Futhark, it is 17, 11 which sums to 28 as well which was seen in the Kingigtorssuaq and Kensington stones. Three I’s or 9’s suggests 3 x 9 = 27 which supplies all the digits for 792.✓

Typically, in runic riddles the TI is in a vertical line. Lying in a nearly perfect vertical line is another I and the runes I M T I. This is 9,14,12,9 or 44…?
The same can be done on the other leg of the M with the R: R M I I or 5,14,9,9 = 37…?
Between them is an I or 9. So that 44 + 9 + 37 is 90 and 90̊ is the north pole which is portrayed as the center pole of the inscription.

The sum of the vertical lines IMTI, IIII and I between them is 89 and 89 x 89 is 7920.✓
The sum of the entire third line is 3,9,16,12,9,9,9,9 = 76 which was seen above.✓
The sum of the fourth line, if they are all 9’s, is 36 which reminds us there are 360 degrees in a circle.
If it is 9 and then 3 x 9; it is 9 27 or 792 as was seen in the line above.✓

It is highly likely that the author of this complicated encryption embedded their name in it. Note the M could also be the T and L runes set together which could spell out the word ‘tell’ or ‘let’ – meaning inscribe. The adjoining I would then create : ‘I tell’ or ‘I let.’ There is the beginning of a name on the third line: Th I ʀ. The last symbol, ʀ, typically ends a name, so again it suggests a name is here. It remains elusive until one realizes the whole puzzle lends itself to counting: first line 12 runes, second 2, third 8 and fourth 4. If each of these represent letters, then TUNÆ is found. Interestingly, this is an old Swedish name and short form of ‘Thorniut.’ Looking at the word groups further find 4 and 8 on the first line and 5 and 3 on the third. This gives Æ,N and R, Th. The first is the name of a goddess An in the same era as Baal. The latter is two of the missing letters to form Thorniut. Now recall the Th I ʀ. The name is now complete as Thærniutʀ also known as Tunæ, the author.

It would have been more satisfying to find Baal spelled out since An was found. But then again… shift ciphers are sometimes used in runic riddles. If the vertical line I M T I is shifted by one rune over (I ⇒A, M⇒B, etc.) it becomes A B L A or Baal. The right side does not shift but remains as RM III meaning ‘Rim 3.’ For sure, this is another one of those weird Baalist statements that appears to be true once you understand what they are talking about.

This inscription seems to be wholly valid. It certainly fits the riddle pattern of other stones, and the syntax has suffered in favor of the numbers. There is also an embedded author name. It displays typical Baalist numbers and indeed, the name Baal in a classic shift cipher is a bonus. All of this is in common with others seen from the period. Consider that this is very near the southerly most tip of Martha’s Vineyard and once was probably ashore on Noman Island before the coast eroded. As the land washed away it dropped the stone into the ocean as well. As noted by many, Martha’s Vineyard most certainly fits the description of Vinland. Holand (1944) argues other reasons for its validity. One might want to err on the side of caution and retrieve it from the ocean before a possible work of great historical value is lost forever.

Leif Eriksson
1001
by Thorniutʀ, also known as Tunæ

Previous Post             Next Post

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 postPDF 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

Holand, Hjalmar Rued. “The Runic Inscription on No Man’s Land.” The New England Quarterly, vol. 17, no. 1, 1944, pp. 56–70. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/361994. Accessed 26 Nov. 2022.

Marstrand, Vilhelm. “The Runic Inscription on No Man’s Land.” The New England Quarterly, vol. 22, no. 1, 1949, pp. 85–92. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/361538. Accessed 26 Nov. 2022.

**Mongé, Alf & O.G. Landsverk, Norse Medieval Cryptography in Runic Carvings, Norseman Press, Glendale, California, 1967.
– – – – –
Liestol, Aslak – Derogatory article on Alf Mongé’s work: http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/41/v41i01p034-042.pdf  and….

…Landsverk responded to these comments in Ancient Norse Messages pg. 126-129; and often in Runic Records of the Norsemen in America.