The "Bélmez faces" refer to a series of mysterious faces that appeared on the floor of a house in Bélmez, Spain, in 1971. The faces, which seemed to shift and change over time, were witnessed by numerous people, including scientists and investigators. Theories to explain the phenomenon include a cemetery or mass graves beneath the house, the mother's alleged psychic abilities, and forgery by the son, who was a painter. Despite numerous investigations and analyses, the cause of the faces remains unknown.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The mysterious house is located in the city of Belmez, in the province of Cordoba in northern Spain, on Rodriguez Street.
2. The house is inhabited by the Pereira family, consisting of mother Maria, Father Juan, and son Miguel.
3. On August 23, 1971, Mother Maria noticed a dark spot on the kitchen floor that turned into a clear picture of a human face over the next seven days.
4. The face did not disappear despite Maria's attempts to clean it, and it was not affected by the family's actions to break and re-pour the floor.
5. The news of the house spread, and many scientists and researchers visited to study the phenomenon.
6. Several theories were proposed to explain the faces, including the existence of a cemetery or mass graves below the house, the mother's spiritual abilities, and forgery.
7. Professor Argomosa suggested that the site of the murder and burial site was the Pereira house or the house of faces, based on historical documents.
8. Sensitive microphones recorded sounds, including the voice of a child, which were described as a combination of hell and brothel.
9. The faces reappeared in the alternative kitchen after it was built.
10. The remains of skeletons with and without heads were found under the house and the house next door, dating back to 700 years.
11. The faces continued to appear even after the remains were removed and the floor was re-poured with cement.
12. Maria died on February 3, 2004, at the age of 85, but the faces did not disappear.
13. The theory of forgery suggests that the faces were drawn by the son, Miguel, using a mixture of colors and compounds.
14. The Spanish Ceramic and Glass Institute found no trace of paint on the faces in 1990.
15. An investigative documentary conducted a technical analysis of the faces in 2014, which found no external factors or manipulation in the formation of the faces.
16. The forensic expert Alamenkos attempted to redraw similar faces using the same elements and methods mentioned by previous investigations but failed.
17. The house still exists, and the faces still appear, making it a popular tourist site in Spain.