In 1971, a small town in Spain became the center of a paranormal phenomenon that still baffles experts and skeptics alike. The town is Bélmez de la Moraleda, and the phenomenon is known as the Faces of Belmez.

The Discovery

The story began on August 23, 1971, when María Gómez Cámara, a housewife, noticed a strange stain on her concrete kitchen floor. To her horror, the stain resembled a human face. She tried to scrub it away, but it was no use. Her husband, Juan Pereira, and her son, Miguel, decided to destroy the stain with a pickaxe and lay new concrete over it.

However, a week later, the face reappeared on the floor, along with other faces of different shapes and sizes. The news spread quickly and soon the house was visited by curious neighbors, journalists, and paranormal investigators. The mayor of Bélmez ordered the floor to be cut out and taken for analysis.

The Investigations

Several investigations were conducted on the Faces of Belmez over the years. Some researchers claimed that the faces were a result of a psychic phenomenon called thoughtography, in which images are projected onto physical surfaces by the power of the mind. They believed that María was the source of the phenomenon, as she was emotionally attached to the house and had experienced trauma in her life.

Other researchers suggested that the faces were caused by natural chemical reactions in the concrete or by moisture and mold. They also accused the Pereira family of creating the faces with paint or acid for financial gain or fame.

The Controversy

The Faces of Belmez have been a subject of controversy and debate for decades. Some people believe that they are genuine paranormal manifestations that reflect the emotions and memories of María or other entities. Others think that they are hoaxes or misinterpretations of natural phenomena.

The faces have changed over time, appearing and disappearing at irregular intervals. Some have been photographed and documented by various sources. Others have been lost or damaged by vandalism or negligence.

One of the most controversial aspects of the case is the discovery of graves under the floor of the house. According to some sources, when people excavated the floor while examining the property, they found skeletons buried below. Another source says that when the floor of the house was dug, it was found to contain the remains of humans, and that it was speculated that a graveyard existed underneath the house. Some people believe that this could explain the origin of the faces, as they could be the expressions of the buried souls.

However, other sources do not mention the graves or question their authenticity. Some skeptics think that the graves could have been planted by the Pereira family or their associates to support their hoax.

María Gómez Cámara died in 2004, but the faces are still visible in her house, which is now a museum open to the public. The mystery of the Faces of Belmez remains unsolved to this day.