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Stone Pillars In Northern New Mexico

kamalktk

Antediluvian
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Mysterious stone pillars emerge from northern New Mexico forest

https://www.krqe.com/news/investiga...new-mexico-forest_20180104025544612/900289942

A set of mysterious stone pillars found in the state's remote northern forest has sparked that question. They're carved stone pillars covered with symbols that clearly have a history -- but a history, so far, no one seems to know anything about.

One man has now made it his quest to find the answer. He's hoping someone will step forward to help solve the mystery that spans across decades near Cimarron.
.....
An archaeologist with the Questa District of the Carson National Forest found a second white stone pillar, similar in size and with similar markings in the area of the Valle Vidal, Carson National Forest.

osamp-wildpillar_31027302_ver1.0_640_360.png
 
I'm guessing that was put up by missionaries when the country was first settled by Europeans. It may be a marker for the benefit of natives who'd been converted to Christianity, telling them where to find a church. Probably early 17th century.
 
a similar function to preaching crosses?

It may have nothing to do with the church - perhaps boundary or way markers created by the laity who use the iconography from piety, superstition or decorative feeling....

It's a neat article. I'm enjoying Mr Serna's enthusiasm and determination; I suspect his publicity may well find us more of these things. I'm not in er..... overlap on the reasoning for his interim conclusions though.
 
That's a particularly beautiful part of New Mexico. The state is called New Mexico for good reason. It was Spanish territory for three hundred years or something. Those markers look Spanish to my untrained eye. I think I've been to the hotel where one is on display, but that was long ago. This looks like maybe a good excuse for a road trip into some stunning countryside. Been meaning to get back down there for many years. Did I mention the scenery is gorgeous?
 
Those markers look Spanish to my untrained eye
I feel that may be more accurate than the 'Templar Cross' attribution.

That encircling coronet carving is extremely distinctive, and reminds me a lot of what I've seen in the Canary Islands: I will try to track-down an example of what I mean
 
Although these ones in New Mexico are far more elaborate, I suspect that their various purposes broadly align with England's Dartmoor Crosses.

There are 192 Dartmoor crosses listed on this specialist website, with descriptions, photos and comments on their likely purpose:
http://www.dartmoor-crosses.org.uk/index2.htm An interesting alternative to "collecting" trig points. Wikipedia says there are 132 within the National Park boundary.

America was invaded/colonised by Europeans from a deeply religious culture. A quick search shows that even now, 50% of people born in New Mexico are Hispanic. It is hardly a surprise that there are Christian crosses from the period in that region.

A quick Google search shows that the 8 point star in that configuration is not exclusive Templar. It was used in many cultures.
 
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