Plymouth Rock - where pilgrims from England first landed - vandalised ahead of 400th anniversary

'Seeing this type of disrespect for the historic reminders of the Mayflower story is both sad and unsettling', official says

Plymouth Rock, a granite slab in Massachusetts where the pilgrims are said to have first stepped foot before discovering the Plymouth colony, has been covered in graffiti as part of a vandalising spree, officials said.

The rock was defaced ahead of the upcoming 400-year anniversary marking the 1620 Mayflower landing, along with several other acts of vandalism targeting historical sites in the Massachusetts town.

Local officials called the vandalising spree “sad and unsettling” after red graffiti appeared on the Plymouth Rock, a Pilgrim Maiden statue, painted scallop shells and a commemorative bench.

Lea Filson, executive director of Plymouth County, said in a statement: “Seeing this type of disrespect for the historic reminders of the Mayflower story is both sad and unsettling.”

She added: “The outpouring of concern and anger over the incident has been a positive ending to a thoughtless gesture."

Much of the vandalism had reportedly been cleaned by late Monday morning, as officials said an investigation was being carried out into the incident.

It was not immediately clear what the motivations were behind the vandalism spree, if any, or if the graffiti was related to the upcoming anniversary celebrations planned throughout Plymouth.

The numbers “508” were seen emblazoned on the rock in graffiti in photos posted online following the incident. The number 508 is an area code used in Plymouth.

Residents stopped by the historic sites on Monday to see the vandalism and were “outraged” by the graffiti, Ms Filson told the Boston Herald.

“Everyone was outraged and sick about it”, she said.

Plymouth Rock is located on the shore of Plymouth Harbour, near the National Monument to the Forefathers and an ampitheater — both of which were also hit in the vandalising spree.

Melissa Arrighi, the Plymouth town manager, also wrote in a statement: “We are saddened and sickened by the recent vandalism in our historic town.”

She added: “This is just one of our historic monuments that was hit. We will begin clean up as soon as possible and the police are investigating.”