Los Lunas Decalogue

November 24, 2009-- Almost 17 miles from my home in Los Lunas sits an oddity which has captivated my curiosity since first moving to New Mexico… the Los Lunas Decalogue; an-enigma-wrapped-in-mystery-experienced-with-both-a-skepticism-and-profound-sense-of-wonder.

The first recorded mention of the Los Lunas “Commandment Rock” was supposedly in 1933 when a professor from the University of New Mexico recounted his visit to what would prove to be a controversial boulder with the inscription of the Ten Commandments in the form of Paleo-Hebrew.  For years many have eluded that the inscription is the work of Jewish-Conquistadors, Pre-Columbian Semites, Nephites, college pranksters, members of the Mormon battalion, and a myriad of other authors. What is for certain is that any oddity that elicits such controversy and can only be found on a desolate mountain in the middle of nowhere is certainly a perfect adventure for this twisted traveler! 

It took me almost two months to secure a permit from Sante Fe after paying a $25 “recreational access permit” from the State Land Office, a fee normally a bit too steep but my interest in exploring such an oddity outweighed financial prudence.

After finding directions to either Hidden Mountain or Mystery Mountain (there is still some ambiguity to what the local should be called among all the guides) I packed up my family and headed for the adventure.  Hiking to the Decalogue is actually a great family activity because it is only about 2 miles round trip on mostly flat terrain to reach the inscription (there is only an ascent up a wash for about 200 yards). 

The morning was cold but clear and there is a serenity being in the middle of nowhere. Human tracks are everywhere on the mountain, hence the beer bottles, bullets, junk and vandalism; however, evidence of earlier occupation is also found. I saw a number of petroglyphs, rock shelters, etc. 

 The inscription itself is perplexing. Vandals scratched out the first line in 2006, but evidence of letters spelling “YHWH” are clearly visible (means Yahweh). I don’t know what to think of the stone; the only conclusion I felt I can offer after experiencing the stone for myself, is that certainly someone had to go out of their way to inscribe what has been so sacred to so many on an obscure boulder in the middle of nowhere. The why’s, how’s, and motives will have to be left to others to resolve. 

For the wikipedia entry on the Los Lunas Decalogue visit here, or for a very interesting description visit http://econ.ohio-state.edu/jhm/arch/loslunas.html.