The Lost City of Atlantis... Found?

The Yonaguni Monument, a massive underwater structure off the coast of Yonaguni Island, Japan, invites both awe and controversy regarding its origins and design.

In 1987, local diver Kihachiro Aratake discovers a massive underwater stone structure off the coast of Yonaguni Island, Japan.

Kihachiro Aratake, a local diver, stumbled upon a remarkable structure while searching for a hammerhead shark breeding ground in 1987. The Yonaguni Monument, as it came to be known, is situated at the southwestern tip of the Japanese archipelago, forming part of the Ryukyu Island chain.

The structure consists of a pyramid-like formation with steps, terraces, passages, and other architectural elements spanning over 500 feet in length and reaching nearly 8 stories in height.

Upon discovery, Aratake found a massive stone staircase with huge steps that align perfectly parallel to the ocean floor, complete with sharp 90-degree angles. The structure stretches more than 500 feet long and about 65 feet wide and rises to the height akin to an eight-story building.

Aratake and other divers are awestruck by the monument's precise geometry and symmetry, suggesting human design rather than natural formation.

Marine geologist Masaki Kimura from Ryukyu University examined the site and posited that its symmetry and right angles, reminiscent of the Egyptian pyramids, strongly suggest an intentional design. Divers visiting the site often feel as though they are traveling back in time or stepping into a mythical kingdom due to the monument's features.

The monument features parallel steps, 90-degree angles, rectangular passages with flat walls and ceilings, and other details that point to intentional construction.

The monument's design, described by one commentat ...

Masaki Kimura and Robert Schoch, two prominent geologists, hold markedly different views on the Yonaguni Monument's origins. Their expert debate highlights the difficulties in definitively understanding ancient structures.

Marine geologist Masaki Kimura believes the Yonaguni Monument is an ancient man-made structure, likely built by the Jomon people around 8,000 BCE.

Kimura, convinced of human craftsmanship, argues that the monument's architectural features point to its origins as an ancient ruin. He has studied detailed aspects of the monument that he asserts show evidence of masonry work which includes three intentionally carved holes and decorative carvings in the stone. These features, like the human faces and animal shapes he observes, including an underwater sphinx with the face of an Okinawan king, suggest a complexity that Kimura believes could only be man-made. He cites the astronomical alignment and possible use as a navigational aid to support the legend of the lost continent of Mu.

Kimura cites the monument's architectural features, such as carved decorations and potential post holes, as evidence of human craftsmanship.

Kimura identifies two circular holes and one hexagonal hole, speculating their use in holding posts for structures like gates or flags. He also points to carvings he interprets as human faces, animal shapes, and the underwater sphinx, reinforcing his belief in the monument's man-made origin.

Geologist Robert Schoch, however, argues the monument is a natural formation created by erosion and tectonic activity.

Schoch challenges Kimura's perspective, advocating for a natural explanation for the monument's features. He attributes features such as the stepped pyramid shape, dramatic entrances, and symmetrical stones to natural weathering and seismic activity, rather than human intervention.

Schoch believes the stepped pyramid shape and other features can be explained by the weathering of sedimentary rock layers and seismic fracturing.

Observing step-like structures along the coastline of Yonaguni Island and the sedimentary rock composition, Schoch suggests that erosion, ocean currents, seismic fracturing, and natural rock pressure could result in the monument's formation. He proposes that the same ...

The Yonaguni Monument's origins have been a subject of debate, with some suggesting a connection to the fabled continent of Mu—an advanced ancient civilization that, according to legend, vanished beneath the Pacific waves.

According to the Mu legend, an advanced ancient civilization thrived on a vast Pacific continent that was ultimately submerged by rising sea levels at the end of the last ice age.

Kimura suggests that the Yonaguni monument was a part of Mu, a lost continent theorized to have spanned the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The legend of Mu, popularized in the West by James Churchward, described it as a vast landmass connecting regions from Hawaii to Easter Island and Micronesia, where an advanced seafaring civilization thrived.

Kimura believes the Yonaguni Monument, dated to around 8,000 BCE, could have been part of this lost continent of Mu.

Kimura posits that around 10,000 years ago, the position of Yonaguni Island on the Tropic of Cancer held astronomical significance. This could have prompted the construction of the Yonaguni Monument to honor the alignment, with the possibility that the monument played a role in navigation for the seafaring Mu civilization.

The monument's astronomical significance and potential use for navigation support the idea that it was built by the seafaring Mu civilization.

A stone situated near the monument points directly north and is theorized by Kimura to have served as a sundial, implying that the builders considered astronomical factors. The precise alignment suggests a purposeful construction, likely for navigating the open seas which would have been crucial for a civilization such as Mu.

If Kimura's theory is correct, the Yonaguni Monument could represent the first known pyramid-like structure built by humans, predating the famous pyramids of Egypt and Central America.

This would challenge the established timeline of ancient human history, suggestin ...

The Yonaguni Monument, located near the Ryukyu Islands in Japan, has sparked an intense debate that could reshape our understanding of ancient human history, depending on whether the origins of the site are man-made or natural.

The Yonaguni Monument's origins, whether natural or man-made, have the potential to reshape our understanding of humanity's past.

If the monument is confirmed as an artificial structure, it could indicate the existence of a previously unknown advanced ancient civilization.

The statement suggests that if Kimura is correct about the Yonaguni Monument being a man-made structure, it could represent a significant finding, potentially challenging established historical narratives. Kimura posits that the monument, with astronomical alignments, could represent the first evidence of a mythical lost kingdom, echoing the achievements of known ancient civilizations like those who built Stonehenge. Roy implies that confirmation of the monument's artificial origin would suggest that an unknown, potentially advanced civilization built the structure, perhaps one that had advanced knowledge of astronomy and navigation, such as the lost civilization of Mu.

Even if the monument is a natural formation, its unique and awe-inspiring features have captivated researchers and the public, sparking new interest in exploring humanity's ancient past.

The monument’s unique characteristics, whether natural or man-made, have already captivated researchers and the public alike, sparking new interest in the exploration of humanity's remote history. The structures existing on the site could have had significant importance for ancient people who might have used it for various cultural or religious activities if they came upon the Yonaguni Monument when it was above sea level.

The ongoing debate between Kimura and Schoch, and the continued interest in the Yonaguni Monument, highlights the importance of keeping an open mind and challenging established historical narratives.

The dialogue between researchers like Kimura and Schoch demonstrates the vibrancy of scholarly debate and the significance of maintaining an open mind reg ...