The Tayos Cave
A cave in the Ecuadorian jungle was said to hide a library of metal books from a lost civilisation.
What was reported
The Cueva de los Tayos is a huge cave system in the Amazon foothills of Ecuador, named after the oilbirds (tayos) that nest inside. In 1969, an explorer named Juan Moricz claimed it held tunnels and a library of metal plates engraved by an ancient civilisation.
The writer Erich von Däniken popularised the story in a 1972 book. In 1976, a large British and Ecuadorian expedition explored the cave, with the astronaut Neil Armstrong as its honorary leader.
Explanations offered
The 1976 expedition mapped the cave and found remarkable natural formations, wildlife and signs of ancient human use, but no metal library. Moricz's claims were never backed by evidence. The legend still draws treasure hunters.
- When
- Claims from 1969; expedition in 1976
- Where
- Morona Santiago, Ecuador
- Witnesses
- Explorers, including astronaut Neil Armstrong
- 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.