YONAGUNI MONUMENT ( submerged site in Japan), also known as YONAGUNI (Island) SUBMARINE RUINS, refers to one of the largest features within a submerged rock formation off the coast of YONAGUNI, the southernmost of the RYUKYU Islands in Japan.
The sea of YONAGUNI is a popular diving location during the winter months, due to its large population of hammerhead sharks. In `1987, while looking for a good place to observe the sharks, Kihachiro Aratake, a Director of the YONAGUNI – CHO Tourism Association, noticed some singular seabed formations resembling Architectonic Structures. Shortly thereafter, a group of scientists, directed by Masaaki Kimura, visited the formations.
The Monument consists of medium to very fine sandstones and mudstones of the Lower Miocene Yaeyama Group believed to have been deposited about 20million years ago. Most of the formations are connected to the underlying “rock mass” as opposed to being assembled out of free-standing rocks.
The flat parallel faces, sharp edges and mostly right-angles of the formation have led some to conclude that the features are man-made. These features include a “trench”, that has two internal 90degree angles, as well as the twin megaliths that, according to Kimura, appear to have been placed there. These megaliths have straight edges and square corners, however, sea currents have been known to move large rocks on a regular basis. Some of those who see the formations as being largely natural, claim that they may have been modified by human hands.
Kimura first estimated that the monument must be at least 8,000BCE, dating it to a period when it would have been “above water”. In a report given to the Pacific Science Congress in 2007, he revised the estimate to 2,000 or 3,000 years ago, because the sea level then was close to current levels. He suggests, that after construction, Tectonic Activity caused it to be submerged below sea level. He believes he can identify a pyramid, castles, roads, monuments and a stadium. Kimura also surmised that the site may be a remnant of the MYTHICAL LOST CONTINENT of MU.
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