Heavener Runestone

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Is the Heavener Runestone real or a hoax? <br><br>The Oklahoma's Tourism and Recreation Commission approved an agreement Thursday that might finally answer that question. <br><br>The

Friday, July 18th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Is the Heavener Runestone real or a hoax?

The Oklahoma's Tourism and Recreation Commission approved an agreement Thursday that might finally answer that question.

The 10-foot by 12-foot runestone rests in a deep ravine beneath moss-covered cliffs and bears inscriptions some scholars say date as early as 600 AD.

Some believe that the stone indicates Norsemen visited the area before the time of Christopher Columbus.

The agreement will permit an archaeologist to search for additional artifacts in a collapsed cave near where the runestone was found. Artifacts might be found that support the authenticity of the marker.

A sample may be taken from the runestone's inscription to identify how long ago it was carved.