The Yonaguni Monument is an underwater structure located off the coast of Yonaguni Island, the southernmost of Japan’s Ryukyu Islands. First discovered in 1985 by dive tour operator Kihachiro Aratake, the site has been the subject of ongoing debate regarding its origin. Many archaeologists and researchers argue that the formation is man-made, while others believe it may be a natural geological formation. The monument is estimated to be around 10,000 years old, dating back to a period when Yonaguni was connected to Taiwan by a land bridge. It measures approximately 150 by 40 meters in area and rises about 27 meters in height.
Key features of the Yonaguni Monument include large rectangular terraces, a formation resembling a giant face called “the face” or “Jacques eyes,” and a series of holes in the rock, including two round holes about two feet wide near a feature called the Triangle Pool. These elements have been compared to megalithic architecture found in places such as Peru’s Sacsayhuamán, with noted similarities in design and construction. Professor Masaaki Kimura, one of the leading researchers studying the site, has suggested that some carvings on the monument resemble ancient scripts and animal drawings, potentially linking the complex to prehistoric cultures. Some theorists even propose the structure could be related to a lost Pacific civilization sometimes identified as Mu. The debate over whether the Yonaguni Monument is a natural or human-made structure remains unresolved, but it continues to captivate archaeologists and historians alike. Underwater ruins and formations often challenge our understanding of ancient civilizations, highlighting how much remains to be discovered beneath the world’s oceans.
Source: Ancient Code
