Yonaguni Monument
- Date of account
- Reportedly identified in 1985; geological age and human modification disputed
- Location
- Yonaguni Island, Okinawa
- Source
- model_recalled_reference
- Record updated
- 2026-10-10
Record summary
The Yonaguni Monument is a submerged sandstone formation identified by diver Kihachiro Aratake in 1985. Its terraces, steps, and apparent right angles have prompted claims that it is a constructed monument, sometimes linked speculatively to a lost civilization. Marine geologists and archaeologists commonly interpret the features as natural jointing and erosion, while some researchers argue for limited human modification. Sea-level history, tool marks, and the absence of securely associated artefacts remain central uncertainties. It is useful for comparing how underwater landscapes become interpreted through competing geological and archaeological models.
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