Have you ever heard of the impressive Giant Footprint found in South Africa? In 1912, a hunter stumbled upon a colossal mark embedded in a granite rock, sparking an intriguing mystery that endures to this day. After all, what mythical or gigantic being could have left such a footprint?
In 1912, a fearless hunter named Stoffel Coetzee was exploring the vast lands of Eastern Transvaal, South Africa. Amidst the rich local wildlife, which included lions and antelopes, Coetzee made an unexpected discovery: a colossal footprint embedded in granite, known as “The Footprint of God.” Since then, this enigmatic mark has remained untouched, preserving its authenticity and fueling speculation about its origin.
The footprint measures approximately 1.2 meters (about 4 feet) in length, suggesting a being of extraordinary size if it were indeed made by a living creature. The detail of the impression is striking, clearly showing the shape of toes and the arch of a foot, as if someone had stepped into soft clay that later solidified into stone.
Over the years, geologists and researchers have visited the site to examine the phenomenon. Some scientists believe it could be the result of natural erosion, where the unique composition of the rock and weathering processes created a shape that resembles a human footprint. Others, however, are not convinced, arguing that the precise outline of the toes is too distinct to be a mere coincidence.
Local legends and stories have also contributed to the mystery. Some communities in the region refer to it as the mark left by giants who roamed the Earth in ancient times, while others connect it to tales of divine beings, which is why it earned the name “The Footprint of God.”
While there is a remote possibility that it could be an elaborate hoax, the isolated location and the extreme hardness of the granite make this hypothesis unlikely. Granite is one of the hardest natural materials found in nature.
Example of hardness of some minerals on the Mohs scale:
- Bronze: 3 Mohs
- Iron: 5 Mohs
- Steel: 6 Mohs
- Granite: 6.5 – 7.5 Mohs
- Diamond: 10 Mohs
The mysterious Mpuluzi Footprint measures an impressive 1.2 meters in length and an average width of 40 centimeters. According to geological estimates, this enigmatic mark could be astonishingly old, ranging from 200 million to 3 billion years.
This dating places the footprint in an extremely remote and little-understood era of Earth’s history, challenging conventional theories about evolution and the origin of life. The fact that it is embedded in granite, one of the hardest natural materials, adds even more mystery, making it unlikely to have been created recently by human activity or common natural processes.
According to geologist Robert Schoch, the famous “giant footprint” is merely a natural formation resulting from erosional processes. Schoch visited the site in June 2014, accompanied by Michael Tellinger, author of books such as African Temples of the Annunaki and Slave Species of the Gods, who advocates the hypothesis that the mark was made by a prehistoric giant.
Schoch reports that upon seeing the formation for the first time, his scientific instinct was one of skepticism. In his view, the mark fits into the category of formations known as tafoni, natural structures created by a combination of weathering and erosion that can take on various shapes. He compared the situation to seeing shapes in clouds, such as animals or human faces, classifying the footprint as a natural simulacrum. The geologist also observed other cavities on the same rock face, including one resembling a small snowman, which reinforced his conviction that it was a natural coincidence rather than evidence of giants.
Michael Tellinger, on the other hand, acknowledged the difficulty of explaining how a giant could have left a footprint in solid granite, which forms several kilometers below the surface under extremely high temperatures and pressures. He proposed an alternative hypothesis: in ancient times, giants could have worked in granite mining. During this process, the rock would have been reduced to a muddy, cement-like state, in which a footprint could be impressed before the mixture solidified again. According to Tellinger, marks around the formation resembled mud pushed by the toes of a giant foot. Although ingenious, this theory did not convince Schoch.
After closely examining the rock, Schoch concluded that it is composed of genuine granite, containing typical crystals of feldspar, quartz, and mica, naturally formed deep within the Earth. This observation rules out the possibility of it being a “remineralized” or artificial rock, as Tellinger’s hypothesis suggested. For Schoch, no known geological process could create this type of granite at the surface, much less under conditions that would allow a footprint to be impressed.
Based on his analysis, Schoch stated with full certainty that the footprint could not have been made by a giant or any living creature. The most plausible explanation is that it is a natural erosional formation, possibly subtly retouched by humans in ancient times, although he found no clear evidence of tool marks. Nevertheless, he does not entirely dismiss the possibility of partial human intervention, considering that surface weathering could have erased traces of carving.
The geologist also highlighted the extraordinary age of the granite where the supposed footprint is found. The rock is part of the Mpuluzi Batholith, a massive igneous formation that is part of the Kaapvaal Craton, one of the oldest and most stable portions of the Earth’s crust, dating back approximately 3.1 billion years. During that period, the most complex known life forms were only primitive microorganisms, with no evidence of giants on Earth. For Schoch, imagining a humanoid walking on solid granite in such a remote era is scientifically untenable.
Thus, Schoch concludes that the famous “giant footprint” is a natural erosional phenomenon, whose mythical interpretation arises from the human tendency to seek patterns and meanings in natural forms. For him, while culturally fascinating, the rock is a silent witness to the geological history of the Earth, not proof of giants in our past.
Already, Michael Tellinger, a South African scientist, researcher, and explorer, known as “the Indiana Jones of South Africa,” is a passionate advocate of the theory that the Earth was once inhabited by giants in a distant past. He is one of the main scholars of this anomalous imprint and argues that we could indeed be looking at a footprint left by a giant being, whether human or not. And he is not alone in this belief.
According to Professor Pieter Wagener of Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in South Africa, with a PhD in applied mathematics, “there is a greater chance of little green men arriving from space and sucking you up with their tongues than of this being created by natural erosion.” This statement reinforces the view that the footprint could represent something extraordinary, beyond what traditional science usually explains.
For Tellinger, the granite mark that resembles a human footprint is part of a larger phenomenon, with records of other supposed humanoid footprints scattered around the world, sparking the curiosity of many scholars and explorers. Some ancient texts, including biblical accounts, mention the existence of giants who once roamed the Earth, strengthening the hypothesis that these marks could originate from extraordinary beings.
Although the authenticity of these records is questionable, Tellinger emphasizes the importance of keeping an open mind when faced with discoveries, regardless of what traditional science might assert. For him, it is essential to challenge established dogmas and paradigms, always with critical thinking and careful analysis, balancing curiosity with healthy skepticism.
This discovery, according to Tellinger, challenges our conventional understanding of history and leads us to question what we truly know about humanity’s past. He believes it is an opportunity to explore new possibilities, expand our worldview, and advance knowledge, remaining open to alternative perspectives and explanations.
Below is a video where researcher Michael Tellinger showcases this impressive geological anomaly:
