Within a mile of Golgotha, exists an ancient pictograph believed to be the handiwork of the Tataviam tribe. This significant stigmata of Christ has been recorded and made public by the San Diego Museum, Rock Art Papers, Volume 3, in a work by Ken Hedges focusing on the Archaeoastronomy found in Agua Dulce Canyon.
What is the Stigmata of Christ?
Stigmata are bodily wounds, scars, or pains that appear on a person’s body in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ. These marks typically manifest in specific areas:
• The hands and wrists (from nails)
• The feet (from nails)
• Near the heart or side (from the lance)
• The head (from the crown of thorns)
• The back and shoulders (from scourging and carrying the cross)
The term “stigmata” comes from the Greek word “στίγματα” (stigmata), the plural of “στίγμα” (stigma), which means ‘mark, spot, or brand’. An individual who bears these wounds is called a stigmatist or stigmatic.
Ancient Pictograph At Location
At the proposed site of Golgotha there is an ancient pictograph closely resembling the stigmata of Christ.
At Vasquez Rocks Park, ancient pictographs, rock carvings, and petroglyphs left by indigenous peoples are scattered throughout, though most remain off-limits to visitors. In a quest that trod on the edge of legality, I sought these clandestine treasures. Driven by tales of archaeologists chronicling the region’s pictographs, petroglyphs, and rock carvings through published books, my curiosity was piqued. These works had found their way into the archives of the San Diego Museum of Art, within a collection known as the “Rock Art Papers.”
My journey took an unexpected turn while I was visiting my son at UC Berkeley. A seemingly irresistible force drew me to the campus library, where, amidst the “Rock Art Papers,” I unearthed two codices focused on Agua Dulce. The image presented above originated from one of them, a serendipitous find on my quest that may well lead to the discovery of a site as enigmatic as ‘The Holy Mountain,’ Golgotha itself.
