While even the most learned scholars can’t agree where or how rune stones originated, Iceland did hold onto them for divination and invocation of higher powers the longest. But in the 17th century, casting small stones for runic divination was banned by Icelandic law. Anyone found to possess these magic runes was “burned alive”. Unfortunately, with the Rune Masters’ deaths, the runes as magical tools died too, as if pages were ripped from the Book of Time. About the only survivors are found in sagas, songs and poetry.