A Face in the Rock
In the Tijuca Forest of Rio de Janeiro, Pedra da Gávea rises with a striking rock face and a set of markings that have fueled speculation for nearly two centuries. Some say the mountain bears a carved human face and ancient inscription.
Others argue the entire phenomenon is natural, shaped by wind, rain, and time. At the center of it all is a debate between science and pseudohistory that began in the 19th century and still draws attention today.
Early Reports and Royal Curiosity
In the 1800s, Christian missionaries noted strange markings on the mountain and relayed their observations to Portuguese royalty. This prompted interest from Emperor Pedro I and later from the Brazilian Historic and Geographic Institute (IHGB). In 1839, IHGB representatives Januário da Cunha Barbosa and Araújo Porto-Alegre inspected the site.
They published a report outlining two possibilities: the markings were either man-made or the result of natural erosion. They hoped a future scholar might eventually decipher them.
Phoenician Theories and Ramos’s Translation
In the 1930s, Brazilian archaeologist Bernardo de Azevedo da Silva Ramos examined the markings, believing they were Phoenician. Assisted by a rabbi in Manaus, he claimed to translate the inscription as: “Tyre, Phoenicia, Badezir, Firstborn of Jethbaal,” referencing a ruler from the 9th century BCE.
Ramos published a two-volume book compiling supposed evidence of Phoenician presence in Brazil. Fringe interpretations followed, including claims involving Norse runes, ship planks, and even a possible tomb.
Scientific Examinations and Dismissals
Geologists and archaeologists have consistently found no evidence to support any theory of ancient foreign contact. Studies determined that the markings are vertical grooves formed by erosion. The supposed “face” is attributed to differential weathering between granite and gneiss.
In 2000, geologists using scanning equipment found no hollow spaces or tunnels in the mountain. The Brazilian Ministry of Education and Health formally declared in the 1950s that the markings were not writing. The mainstream view remains that Pedra da Gávea’s features are natural and not archaeological.
Rising from the Tijuca Forest in Rio de Janeiro, Pedra da Gávea stirs curiosity with what looks like a sculpted human face and an ancient inscription.
For nearly two centuries, theories have swirled—from Phoenician explorers to Norse colonies and even UFOs…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/y7tWFVQAJY
— Fascinating True Stories (@TigerDetective) August 4, 2025