Nomans Land (Massachusetts)

[1] An entail of 1695 mentions that William Nicoll of Islip Grange, Long Island, New York, owned the Island of Normans Land near "Martins Vineyard" recalling the fact that on December 19, 1685, Governor Dongan, Lord of the Manor of Martha's Vineyard (including Normans Land) had made Nicoll his Steward there.

[12] A stone covered in runes mentioning the Viking explorer Leif Erikson, believed to be the first European to set foot in North America, was reportedly discovered in 1926 and photographed near the coast of the island.

[13] If it were authentic, it might suggest that Vikings had traveled as far south as present-day Massachusetts, and that it is the true location of the settlement of Vinland; however, archaeologists have considered it a hoax.

Since being established as a national wildlife refuge and having human activity grind to a halt, Nomans Land has served as an important habitat for many different species.

Situated in the middle of the Atlantic Flyway, the island is an important stopover point for migratory birds such as terns and cormorants, who share the shoreline with a sizeable population of seals.

[15] Inland, the habitat consists of the steep cliffs on the shoreline, marshland, cranberry bogs, young forest, coastal shrubbery, and more.