Stones Showing Transition From Druid-Akkadian To Latin

Example of a Latin Gravestone Using Same Letters As Runestones

Hayle Stone 479 (Kennedy Grave Stone) - Parish of Saint Erth, Cornwall

Background

(January 11, 2026) This is an important example of a Latin grave stone from near the end of the British Celtic runic stone era (900 CE). It also seems to have one of the first examples of the Kennedy surname. Where their letters overlap both runic and Latin inscriptions used the same letter styles.

Macalister reports that this stone was found in 1843, somewhere close to the place where it is at present. Near it was a stone-lined grave, "6 or 8 feet long" filled “with a mixture of sand, charcoal, and ashes, and entirely covered with a loose heap of stones, the top of which was considerably beneath the surface of the ground. For its preservation it was set upright in a wall close by.

Its original dimensions were 6′0″ × 1' 0" × 0' 8", with a blank space below the inscription apparently about 2′ 6″ long. The stone has now been cut down to 4' 1" x 0' 11 "- thickness undeterminable , as it is fixed in the revetment wall of a bank beside a pathway in a small public park.

References

Cassell's Latin Dictionary by D.P. Simpson (1968) Harper Collins

Translation in Latin (Northern Text 172)

Letter style is Latin

Dictionary used: Cassell's Latin Dictionary by D.P. Simpson (1968) Harper Collins

1. HIC IN TUMULO REQVI EVIT

2. CVNAIDE HIC IN TUMULO IACIT VIX(SC)IT ANNOS XXXIII

In English

1. Here in mound rests, devoid of life, ________

2. Kunaide here in mound lays his/her flesh, Years 33 (X sounds like SC)

Comment: Kenadie/Kynedi/Kenadee, a modern variant of the Irish surname Kennedy. Kunaide seems to be that name's ancient form. This seems to be a reburial using the same mound as someone from older times. The "X" letter in the text is the Welsh letter for the Druid Akkadian Š. Latin does not have a letter for this sound which sounds like SC.

Previously Attempted Translation

1. HIC IN TVMVLO REQVIEVIT*

2. CVNAIDE HIC IN TVMVLO IACIT VIXIT ANNOS XXXIII

No English translation provided

Example of a Latin/Viking Gravestone Having Scandinavian Runes (800 CE)

Lethnott 509 - County of Forfar, Scotland

Background

(March 25, 2026) Macalister reports that this stone was found found while repairing the floor of the church. It is now in the National Museum, Edinburgh.

The stone is made from red sandstone having dimensions of 0′ 9 1/2″ × 0′ 4″ × 0' 1 3/4 " ,

References

Cassell's Latin Dictionary by D.P. Simpson (1968) Harper Collins

Macalister, R A Stewart. 1945. Corpus Inscriptionum Insularum Celticarum Volume 1, page 486. Online at: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Corpus_Inscriptionum_Insularum_Celticaru/4jgaAAAAYAAJ?hl=en

Translation in Latin

Letter style is mostly Latin with some Nordic letters (E, P, D) which mostly are used in the father's name.

Dictionary used: Cassell's Latin Dictionary by D.P. Simpson (1968) Harper Collins

1. GRITI

2. FILII

3. HEDIPII

In English

1. Griti

2. daughter of

3. Hedipi

Comment: This shows the transition to Latin writing (daughter's name) from Norse runic writing (father's name).

Previously Attempted Translation

1. GRITI

2. FILII

3. MEDICII

No English translation provided