The Faces of BelmezThe Faces of Belmez

Spain 1971Spain 1971

Who?Who?

María Gómez Cámara claimed that a human María Gómez Cámara claimed that a human face formed spontaneously on her concrete face formed spontaneously on her concrete kitchen floor. María's husband, Juan Pereira and kitchen floor. María's husband, Juan Pereira and their son, Miguel, destroyed the image with a their son, Miguel, destroyed the image with a pickaxe and new concrete was laid down. pickaxe and new concrete was laid down. However, the Pereira story goes, a new face However, the Pereira story goes, a new face formed on the floor. formed on the floor.

The Pereira family claim that faces continued to The Pereira family claim that faces continued to appear, both male and female and of different appear, both male and female and of different shapes, sizes and expressions.shapes, sizes and expressions.

What?What?

The The Bélmez FacesBélmez Faces or the or the Faces of Faces of BélmezBélmez is an alleged paranormal is an alleged paranormal phenomenonphenomenon. Residents claimed images . Residents claimed images of faces appeared in the concrete floor of of faces appeared in the concrete floor of the house. These images have the house. These images have continuously formed and disappeared on continuously formed and disappeared on the floor of the home. the floor of the home.

Where?Where?

In a private house in Spain.In a private house in Spain.

When?When?

August, 1971. August, 1971.

Effects?Effects?

The house became a major tourist The house became a major tourist attraction, and for 30 years people have attraction, and for 30 years people have been coming to see the strange been coming to see the strange phenomenon. phenomenon.

The faces also made the town of Belmez The faces also made the town of Belmez famous. famous.

Visual SupportVisual Support

Logical Explanation?Logical Explanation?

Scientists and parapsychologists have Scientists and parapsychologists have formulated possible explanations:formulated possible explanations:

The faces were paintedThe faces were painted A chemical compound had been used to stain the A chemical compound had been used to stain the

concreteconcrete Light sensitive compoundsLight sensitive compounds

Reactions to phenomenon?Reactions to phenomenon?

As with any phenomenon : Belief and As with any phenomenon : Belief and scepticismscepticism

Scientists have proven that there are Scientists have proven that there are elements within the concrete that were elements within the concrete that were man made.man made.

Tourists and paranormal fanatics flocked Tourists and paranormal fanatics flocked to the area to see the phenomenon, to the area to see the phenomenon, ignoring scientific fact. ignoring scientific fact.

Challenging aspectsChallenging aspects

If this happened in your house, what If this happened in your house, what challenges would you face when telling challenges would you face when telling people?people?

How did this change society/ How did this change society/ group?group?

How do you think this changed Spain at How do you think this changed Spain at the time?the time?

How do you think this effected the family How do you think this effected the family involved? Explain. involved? Explain.

So…what is your opinion?So…what is your opinion?

In three to four sentences write your In three to four sentences write your opinion of The Faces of Belmez. Do you opinion of The Faces of Belmez. Do you believe they were fake? Or did they believe they were fake? Or did they appear from paranormal activity? Write appear from paranormal activity? Write your response with a justification. your response with a justification.