Los Lunas Decalogue Stone facts for kids
The Los Lunas Decalogue Stone is a very large rock found on the side of Hidden Mountain, near Los Lunas, New Mexico. This is about 35 miles (56 km) south of Albuquerque. The stone has a special carving on a flat part of its surface. It is also called the Los Lunas Mystery Stone or Commandment Rock. People argue about the stone because some believe the carving was made before Christopher Columbus came to America. If true, it would suggest that people from ancient Semitic cultures (like the Hebrews or Phoenicians) visited the Americas a very long time ago.
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What is the History of the Stone?
The first time the stone was officially mentioned was in 1933. A professor named Frank Hibben, who was an archaeologist from the University of New Mexico, saw it. In an interview from 1996, Professor Hibben said he was sure the carving was very old and real. He mentioned that when he first saw it in 1933, it was covered with moss and looked very old, making it hard to see. He also said a guide took him to the site and claimed to have seen the stone when he was a boy in the 1880s.
However, some people question Professor Hibben's story. This is because he was accused of making up some of his archaeological findings in other cases. He did this to support his ideas about how people first came to America.
The idea that the stone was discovered in the 1880s is important for those who believe it is very ancient. But, the ancient Hebrew writing style, called Paleo-Hebrew alphabet, was known to experts by at least 1870. This means it's possible someone could have carved it more recently as a trick.
Why Hasn't the Stone Been Moved?
The Los Lunas Decalogue Stone is very heavy, weighing over 80 tons. Because of its huge size, it has never been moved to a museum or a lab for closer study and protection. Many visitors have cleaned the carvings over the years. This cleaning has likely removed any chance for scientists to study the stone's natural aged surface. This surface, called patina, could help tell how old the carving truly is.
Even so, a geologist named George E. Morehouse compared the carving to a newer one nearby. He thought the Los Lunas carving could be between 500 and 2000 years old. He suggested that the carving looked fresh because people often scrubbed it to make it easier to see.
What Happened to the Stone Recently?
In April 2006, the first line of the carving was damaged by vandals. Vandals are people who purposely destroy property. This part of the stone was not protected, which made it easier for the damage to happen.
If you want to visit the stone today, you need to buy a special permit. It costs $35 and can be bought from the New Mexico State Land Office.
Are There Other Similar Mysterious Stones?
The Los Lunas Decalogue Stone is often talked about alongside other American landmarks that have uncertain origins. These include the Heavener Runestone, the Kensington Runestone, Dighton Rock, and the Newport Tower. These places also have carvings or structures that some people believe are very old and mysterious.
Other disputed Hebrew carvings in America include the Smithsonian Institution's Bat Creek Inscription and the Newark Ohio Decalogue Stone.
Images for kids
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The Los Lunas Decalogue Stone after the first line was damaged in 2006
See also
In Spanish: Piedra de Los Lunas para niños
