El Fuerte de Samaipata
A whole hill of red sandstone in Bolivia is covered in carved channels, seats and animals, and some say it was a landing pad.
What was reported
Near the town of Samaipata in eastern Bolivia, the top of a long sandstone hill is carved with channels, niches, seats, steps and animal figures, including jaguars and snakes. It is one of the largest carved rocks in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Its parallel grooves have led to claims that it was a launch ramp or landing site for ancient flying craft.
Explanations offered
Archaeologists say it was a religious centre, carved and used first by local Chané peoples and later by the Inca, who built a town around it. The channels are thought to have carried water or offerings in ceremonies.
- When
- Carved from about 300 CE
- Where
- Samaipata, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
- Witnesses
- Archaeologists and visitors
- Status
- Explained
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.