The monument's advanced stone structures and the timing of its submersion around the end of the last ice age align with the legend of Atlantis, suggesting it could be the lost civilization's ruins.
Features like perfectly parallel steps, symmetrical passages, and terraced platforms resemble human-made structures, and some areas show evidence of masonry work and decorative carvings.
Kimura estimates the monument's construction based on its advanced features and the known timeline of the Jomon people, who were the only known inhabitants of the Ryukyu Islands at that time.
Schock attributes the monument's features to natural erosion, sedimentary rock layers, and tectonic activity, suggesting that the structures could be the result of geological processes rather than human construction.
Kimura believes the monument's location and features align with the legend of Mu, suggesting it could have been part of an advanced seafaring civilization that was submerged by rising ocean levels.
Kimura suggests the monument's construction was influenced by astronomy, possibly serving as a navigational aid for sailors or a spiritual connection to the stars, given Yonaguni's location on the Tropic of Cancer.
Scholars like Robert Schock argue that the features of the monument can be explained by natural processes, and there is no definitive evidence of human intervention or advanced ancient civilizations.
The monument is located in a remote underwater area, requiring specialized diving skills and equipment, and there are logistical challenges in bringing experts to the site for detailed examination.
The Yonaguni Monument is a large underwater stone complex off the coast of a tiny Japanese island. After their discovery in 1987, divers and local academics thought the rock formations were human-constructed, indicating the presence of a yet-undiscovered ancient civilization. Could these structures unlock a new chapter of human history?
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