Huella del Pajarillo ground mark
- Date
- 9 Jan 1986
- Place
- Cerro Pajarillo, near Cerro Uritorco, Capilla del Monte, Córdoba, Argentina
- Record
- Curated case
- Assessment
- Explained
- Evidence strength
What was reported
After local residents, among them 11-year-old Gabriel Gómez and his family, reported a bright object near the hill, a dark oval mark roughly 122 by 64 metres was found burned into the vegetation of Cerro Pajarillo and stayed visible for about three years. Researchers, officials and TV crews visited; some reported unusual soil and magnetic readings, others argued the burn was exaggerated or set. Luis Bartoli, then head of the local fire brigade, later said some sightings and the mark were fabricated by local figures to attract tourism, which the case did, turning Capilla del Monte into a UFO destination.
What officials concluded
No conclusion stated
No official explanation has been given.
Strongest ordinary reading
A deliberately burned mark staged for tourism, per the then fire chief
Evidence profile
- Yes: Visual
- No: Infrared
- No: Radar
- No: Video
- No: Photo
- No: Film
- No: Audio
- No: Night vision
- No: Other sensor
- Yes: Civilian
- No: Military aircrew
- No: Military ground
- No: Airline crew
- No: Sensor operator
- No: Law enforcement
- No: Scientist
- No: Astronaut
- No: Intelligence official
- No: Other
- No: Light only
- No: Orb or sphere
- Yes: Disc
- No: Triangle
- No: Cylinder
- No: Cube
- No: Other shape
- No: Physiological
- Yes: Physical trace
- No: Electromagnetic
- No: Sound
- No: Silent
Outside sources
- Wikipedia: UFO sightings in Argentinaen.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia: Capilla del Monteen.wikipedia.org
On the map
30.83° S, 64.50° W, plotted at the town or city
Show on the map