Los Lunas Decalogue Stone

Located on State Trust Lands at the base of Hidden Mountain is one of New Mexico’s most unusual landmarks. Also known as the Mystery Stone or Commandment Rock, this massive basalt boulder bears a nine-line inscription that some interpret as an abridged version of the Ten Commandments in ancient Hebrew-style script.

Is it legit?

No one can say for sure but there are some clues that suggest it may not be authentic.

• There are no nearby Hebrew settlements, artifacts, campsites, tools, or related remains to support an ancient Semitic presence in the area.
• The inscription combines Paleo-Hebrew, Samaritan-like forms, Greek letters, and unusual punctuation.
• There are spelling, grammar, and other mistakes inconsistent with a fluent ancient Hebrew writer.
• Paleo-Hebrew was known to scholars by the late 1800s, so a modern forger could have copied or imitated it.
• The first reliable report is from 1933, while earlier claims are secondhand or undocumented.
• Frank Hibben, the archaeologist who first reported the stone, has been criticized for archaeological fabrication in other findings.
• The carved lines look relatively crisp for something claimed to be ancient.
• Repeated scrubbing by visitors damaged the surface, making patina and weathering analysis unreliable.
• The stone itself cannot easily date the inscription, and weathering estimates remain unclear.

I’ll let you decide what to believe ;)

Whether viewed as artifact or local legend, the Los Lunas Decalogue Stone offers a memorable off-the-beaten-path stop for visitors exploring central New Mexico.

A permit is required to access this area. To find out more about the stone and how to obtain a permit visit nmstatelands.org.