The Rise and Fall of the South/Central American Spoof Artefacts

(a) The Crespi Collection The Father Carlo Crespi collection in Cuenca, Ecuador, is unique because it involved a mix of genuine artefacts, modern brass items, and bizarre gold-plated sheets. The Collection Begins (1923–1960s): Father Crespi, a Salesian monk, began receiving objects from local indigenous people (the Shuar) as gifts or in exchange for charity starting in 1923.
The Main Period (1960s–1982): The collection reached its peak in the 60s and 70s, filling several rooms of the Maria Auxiliadora Church. It gained global fame after Erich von Däniken visited in the early 70s. Unlike the other hoaxes, many of these items were modern brass plumbing fixtures or copper sheets etched by locals who knew the priest would give them money for "relics."
Current Status: After Crespi’s death in 1982, the collection was largely dispersed. Most of the "precious" metal sheets vanished or were identified as modern scrap metal, though the Central Bank of Ecuador purchased the genuine archaeological ceramic pieces. Today, the collection no longer exists as a singular entity. No new "finds" are reported.

(b) The Acámbaro Figures
The Main Period (1944–1952): Unlike the Ica stones, which spanned decades, the Acámbaro figures had a very concentrated "production" window. Within just eight years, Waldemar Julsrud amassed his entire collection of 32,000 pieces.
Current Status: Production largely stopped after Julsrud died in 1964 and the financial incentive (the 1-peso reward) vanished. The collection is now housed in the Waldemar Julsrud Museum in Acámbaro. New "finds" are extremely rare because the archaeological community has long since dismissed the site.

(c) The Ica Stones
The Ica stones follow a timeline of gradual discovery followed by an explosion of "finds" once a wealthy market was established.
Early Origins (Pre-1960s): Small numbers of stones with simple geometric designs were found in the Ocucaje region. Architect Santiago Agurto Calvo collected several hundred in the early 1960s, but these did not feature the controversial dinosaur imagery.
The Main Collection Period (1966–1970s): The "modern" era began in 1966 when Dr. Javier Cabrera Darquea received his first stone. Between 1966 and the late 1970s, the collection grew exponentially to over 11,000 pieces. This was the "Golden Age" of the hoax, fueled by Cabrera's willingness to buy any stone brought to him by farmers like Basilio Uschuya.
The Decline and "Discovery" Today: Following the 1977 BBC exposé and Uschuya’s confession, the international scientific community has moved on. However, the stones are still being "found" or produced today. Tourists in Ica can still buy "authentic" stones in local markets, and Cabrera’s family continues to maintain a private museum, keeping the legend alive for alternative-history enthusiasts.

(d) The Jalisco Stones (Ojuelos de Jalisco)
The Ojuelos stones from Jalisco appeared later and often echo themes similar to Ica: dinosaurs, advanced civilizations, extraterrestrials.The Early Origins (1940s – 1960s). While many claim the stones were found centuries ago, the documented "modern" history begins roughly in the mid-20th century. Small, unusual carved stones began appearing in the hands of local farmers and residents in the municipality of Ojuelos, Jalisco. These early pieces were often described as small pendants or figurines. The initial "finds" were attributed to locals digging for various reasons or finding them washed out of hillsides after heavy rains.
The collection of these stones transitioned from a local hobby to an international phenomenon in the early 21st century. The rise of the internet and "Ancient Alien" theories brought global attention to Ojuelos. Between 2010 and 2017, thousands of pieces were "discovered." Families in the area began presenting massive collections, claiming they were found in secret caves or buried caches in the hills.
In 2012, a group of researchers and enthusiasts formed a foundation to promote the stones as genuine evidence of extraterrestrial contact with ancient Mexican cultures, which catalyzed a surge in both collecting and tourism.
More recently, the trade has evolved into a sophisticated cottage industry. Many of the carvers are highly skilled, using traditional stone-working techniques to create the "weathered" look that buyers expect. The trade has now moved from the dusty streets of Ojuelos to Facebook Groups, eBay, and Etsy. You can easily find "authentic" Ojuelos stones for sale today, ranging from $50 to several thousand dollars.
The Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH), Mexico’s official archaeological body, does not recognize these stones as authentic antiquities.