Cueva de Los Tayos - Tayos Caves

Within the Ecuadorian Amazon region, the Tayos Caves hold an enigmatic tale that has captivated explorers for generations. These caves, believed to form an extensive underground network with remarkably straight features, have ignited speculation about their origin. Some have proposed the involvement of an advanced ancient civilization or even extraterrestrial beings.

The Shuar people, indigenous to this region, play a central role in this narrative. Known for their unique practices, such as head-shrinking, they are believed to have possessed valuable artifacts, including metal tablets. These artifacts found their way into the hands of Father Crespi, a Catholic priest who earned their trust. The reasons behind this trust remain shrouded in mystery (More information is provided later in this section).

Juan Moricz (1923-1991) a Hungarian-Argentinean explorer, another key figure in this tale, claimed to have discovered the Tayos metal library in the mid-1960s. His account gained notoriety through Erich von Däniken’s book ‘Gold of the Gods,’ which sparked widespread interest in the region’s mysteries.

Stan Hall (1936-2008) a Scottish engineer, after reading about Moricz’s expedition, led a second expedition to the Tayos Caves in 1976. This time it was an Ecuadorian-British Expedition and involved over 100 individuals, including expert cavers, military personnel, and astronaut Neil Armstrong, who served as the Honorary President. Armstrong, renowned as the first person to set foot on the moon during NASA’s Apollo 11 mission in 1969, brought a unique perspective to the expedition.

Reports suggest that crates were retrieved from the caves on various occasions, raising speculation about their contents. Some believe these crates might have held treasures or relics from the elusive metal library. However, the true nature of these artifacts and their ultimate fate remain shrouded in secrecy, leaving the library’s existence as one of history’s enduring mysteries.

Contents of the Metal Libraries:

• Advanced Technology: The use of metal for documenting knowledge hints at a level of technological advancement not typically associated with ancient cultures.
• Unknown Script: The undeciphered inscriptions challenge researchers and linguists, as decoding the script could unlock a wealth of information about the civilization that created them.
• Translucent Tablets: The mention of translucent plates adds another layer of mystery, as advanced materials like these were not typically associated with ancient civilizations.

Another crucial character in this narrative is Petronillo Jaramillo A., who emerged as a key custodian of the treasure story after Moricz’s passing in 1991. His collaboration with Stan Hall filled gaps in their separate journeys, ultimately revealing crucial information about the artifacts hidden within the caves.

Even Hollywood has taken an interest in this tale. Actor Will Smith ventured into the Tayos Caves for a National Geographic documentary just one week after our own expedition last year. His presence added a contemporary twist to this captivating story, demonstrating that the mysteries of the Tayos Caves continue to pique the interest of people from all walks of life. The documentary is expected to air in either 2023 or 2024, shedding more light on this intriguing mystery.

Who was Father Crespi?

Father Carlos Crespi Croci (1891-1982), an Italian Salesian monk, dedicated nearly six decades of his life to charitable work in Ecuador, primarily in the city of Cuenca. His remarkable talents and unwavering humanitarian efforts earned him immense respect and affection from the local people, leaving a profound legacy in the region.

Indigenous communities expressed their gratitude by presenting various artifacts to Father Crespi. His collection encompassed over 50,000 items, including figurines, ceremonial objects, and unique artifacts. Unfortunately, a devastating fire in 1962 consumed many of these treasures, and the remaining collection mysteriously disappeared.

In 1973, Erich von Däniken’s book, ‘Gold of the Gods,’ claimed that Juan Moricz had discovered a metallic library in Ecuador’s Tayos Caves, with some of these artifacts given to Father Crespi, who also had connections with the Vatican. This sensational revelation sparked global intrigue but also cast doubts on the authenticity of the findings, and that’s why the second expedition with Neil Armstrong took place.

Ancient Origins (“the only Pop Archaeology site combining scientific research with alternative perspectives”) embarked on an investigative journey to uncover the truth. They discovered that Father Crespi’s collection is now under the custody of the Central Bank of Ecuador. The majority of items in the collection are genuine and historically valuable. However, what von Däniken referred to as the “Metallic Library” appears to be nothing more than modern carvings on inferior metal.

Yet, one essential question remains unanswered: the whereabouts and authenticity of the gold carvings, hieroglyphs, and Sumerian figures that were photographed in the 1970s. This mystery surrounding Father Crespi’s collection endures, leaving us with an enigma yet to be fully unraveled.

From what I have gathered from various sources, there exists a wide-ranging “conspiracy” theory suggesting that the metal library belonged to ancient civilizations who dwelled beneath the Earth, concealing themselves from a biblical flood or asteroid impact. These civilizations are thought to have possessed advanced technologies, possibly with extraterrestrial assistance. If you’ve watched the documentary “Ancient Civilizations” on Netflix by Graham Hancock, you might find this a fascinating discovery, prompting us to reconsider what is currently regarded as the archaeologically accurate representation of Earth’s ancient societies.

Another intriguing aspect to note is that the objects filmed by Father Crespi and the investigative journalists and curious individuals who interviewed him in the 1950s and early 1960s were primarily found in the Central Bank of Ecuador and were considered insignificant (the simple metal ones). However, those crafted from pure gold, adorned with Sumerian and Egyptian carvings and symbols, have vanished. It is likely that they were not lost in the 1962 fire but were instead retrieved by a secretive organization, private investors, or even the Vatican. Subsequently, the building housing the collection was set ablaze to conceal the story, as it had the potential to significantly alter people’s perspectives on God and the origins of civilizations.