Egyptian-style hieroglyphics carved in Australian sandstone. Almost certainly a modern hoax. But their origin and purpose remain disputed.
A Pharaoh's tale down under
In a narrow sandstone cleft within Brisbane Water National Park, around 300 carvings resemble ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. These engravings, known as the Gosford Glyphs or Kariong Hieroglyphs, depict boats, animals, and figures, including the jackal-headed god Anubis. The collection even includes two cartouches—oval frames enclosing royal names—one of which is claimed to be that of Khufu, a Fourth Dynasty pharaoh who reigned between 2637 and 2614 BC.
Proponents of the glyphs' authenticity argue they are evidence of an ancient Egyptian expedition that became shipwrecked in Australia thousands of years ago. One amateur translator, Ray Johnson, claimed the glyphs tell a detailed story of two princes, Nefer-ti-ru and Nefer-Djeseb, who were stranded. According to this narrative, one of the princes died from a snake bite and was entombed nearby. However, Johnson was not a formally trained Egyptologist, and his interpretation is not academically recognized. The story gained public attention in the mid-1990s and draws visitors and amateur historians to the site.
The case for a modern hoax
The overwhelming consensus among Egyptologists and archaeologists is that the Gosford Glyphs are a modern creation. Experts point to numerous inconsistencies that discredit claims of antiquity. The carving style is disorganized and does not match the methods used for genuine Egyptian rock inscriptions. The glyphs also contain anachronisms, mixing symbols from different historical periods of ancient Egypt that are separated by thousands of years. Some signs used in the carvings were not invented until 2,500 years after the time of Khufu, the pharaoh supposedly named.
The geology of the site offers more evidence against their authenticity. The engravings are cut into Hawkesbury Sandstone, a relatively soft rock that erodes quickly. Nearby Aboriginal petroglyphs, known to be around 250 years old, show significantly more weathering than the glyphs. The sharp, clean-cut edges of the hieroglyphs suggest they are much more recent. The carvings were first formally reported in 1975 by a local surveyor, Alan Dash, who noted new glyphs appearing with each visit over the following years. A rock art conservator in 1983 found some glyphs he estimated to be less than a year old. Theories on their origin include creation by Australian soldiers returning from Egypt after World War I, local students in the 1970s, or a Yugoslavian immigrant with an interest in Egyptology seen carving at the site in the early 1980s.
💡Fun Facts
Some of the glyphs are carved backward, a mistake a genuine Egyptian scribe would not make.
An amateur Egyptologist named Ray Johnson claimed the carvings told the story of an Egyptian prince who died from a snake bite and was buried at the site.
The site is located in the same national park as the Bulgandry Aboriginal Art Site, which features authentic petroglyphs that show far more natural erosion.
Egyptology experts sometimes use photos of the Gosford Glyphs to teach students how to identify fake hieroglyphs.
The park is generally open from sunrise to sunset. The site itself was temporarily closed due to unstable rocks; check the official park website for current access status.
Admission
Free to view the glyphs, though standard vehicle entry fees for Brisbane Water National Park may apply.
Accessibility
The site is reached via a 3km return bushwalk that begins on a wide dirt trail before turning into an unpaved, potentially muddy track. The final approach involves a scramble through a narrow rock opening.