Legend of the Runic Rock

Editorial: Exit the Runic Rock
Tuesday August 20, 1940
Vineyard Gazette
We note with some sadness the disappearance of the runic rock of Noman’s Land, yet this is as proper an ending as any for a me­morial to Leif Eriksson which scholars say Leif or any of his men never carved. Noman’s Land is an island of romance and mystery, and has been these many years, but all its tales seem to have an ironic ending.
 
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Noman’s Land Again
Tuesday August 9, 1966
Vineyard Gazette
The visit to Noman’s Land the other day by Bertrand Wood who lived on that seaward island long ago and took with him many of the nostalgic memories of youth, directs attention again to the runic rock of Noman’s. The rock was submerged by, the tide and Mr. Wood could not photograph it as he had hoped.
 
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Runic Rock of Noman’s Land Is Rediscovered and Identified by Intrepid Explorers of Bombed Island
Tuesday August 24, 1954
Vineyard Gazette
The runic rock of Noman’s Land was discovered and identified beyond doubt by the weekend expedition led by Curtiss Bacon, lawyer and visitor to the Vineyard, who has interested himself in an attempt to subject the runes to more complete study than has yet been made. The rock had not been seen since the 1938 hurricane when a great section of cliff on the western shore of Noman’s Land fell into the sea, and it may have been covered for years by this fallen material.
 
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Noman’s Land’s Runic Rock Has Disappeared, Shore Erosion Blamed
Friday August 16, 1940
Vineyard Gazette
The runic rock of Noman’s Land has apparently disappeared, and it is believed that erosion of the shore line of that island during the hurricane of 1938 may have buried it or changed its location so that it is no longer accessible to searchers, Joshua Crane, owner of Noman’s Land, has looked for the rock unsuccessfully, and there is no record that it has been seen since the hurricane.
 
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Rural Legend of Viking Presence Endures
Monday June 4, 2007
Jim Hickey

It is either the biggest hoax or the most ignored chapter in Island
history.

There are people who believe that the mysterious - almost
mythic - Viking people once visited, and perhaps even colonized
Martha's Vineyard, hundreds of years before Bartholomew Gosnold
made land here and named the Island after a family member.

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Historic Preservation Commissions Doubt Rune Rock Credibility
Thursday July 5, 2007
Jim Hickey

A planned expedition to recover a mysterious rune stone on
Noman's Land reportedly inscribed with the name of famous Viking
Leif Eriksson has hit a snag. The state historical commission questions
the plan and the Chilmark historical commission has recommended against
removal of the stone.

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Revisiting Viking Myth on Island, Noman's Expedition Is Planned
Thursday June 7, 2007
Jim Hickey

Riding the wave of a sudden renewed interest in a possibly ignored
chapter of Vineyard history, an expedition made up of researchers,
diving experts and history buffs plans to travel to Noman's Land
this summer to help determine if Vikings visited here around the year
1000 A.D.

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