Dighton Rock inscription

Record summary

Dighton Rock is a boulder bearing carved markings documented by colonial observers in Massachusetts. Over several centuries, interpreters have proposed Indigenous, Norse, Portuguese, and other readings, making it a classic case of contested rock-art attribution. Modern interpretation emphasizes the need to study the carvings in relation to Indigenous traditions, weathering, copying practices, and changing colonial expectations. The lead supports comparison between a genuine engraved landscape feature and the later historical narratives imposed upon it, while the exact meaning of the marks remains uncertain.