YONAGUNI AND PERU

The very first moments after the discovery of the Yonaguni monument there may have been some doubt about its artificiality, due to its large scale. However, anybody interested in archaeology must have realized soon that there are similar enormous structures at other places in the world, the best known being that in Egypt. However, the most relevant are the ones from South America, specifically Peru, because they have a considerable likeness to the Yonaguni finds, as the following comparison of images will show (in each case: Yonaguni left, Peru right):

 
   
 
 
     
The comparison seems to show considerable stylistic similarities between the architecture of the Yonaguni and (pre-) Inca monuments. First of all there is the similarity in overall lay-out of the two top pictures. Secondly, there is the basic rectangular structure, heightened the use of some non-straight angles, in all four pictures. Note how in all cases the regularity enforced by rectangular features seems to have been intertwined with enforced irregularity within these patterns: when there is something like a staircase, almost no step is the same as any other.


The second common feature is the way rounded structures are used in the rare case they used at all. In the Yonaguni case these are the two holes and the round boulder. In the Inca case there is a similar rare set of holes at Quenko, see below:
 
 
↑  Both pictures of the same item  ↓   See the top right plateau, click on the picture for an enlargement.
 
 
     
However, where the holes in the Yonaguni monument are universally described as functional, to be filled by posts or something like that, the Quenko holes are designated as eyes. With the comparison at hand, and looking at the structure of the Yonaguni monument as a whole, a symbolic function for its holes seems more likely. Their designation as eyes would probably be more fitting. The bottom Yonaguni picture seems to point to a possible interpretation of the whole feature as that of the head of a bird of prey.

Another common property found at both places, and one that is more or less characteric of both civilizations, is the use of an intricate mix of natural and artificial features, which makes it difficult to keep the two kinds apart; a simple example is given below:
 
 
     

Finally, the method of sculpting more or less "hiddden" images known from Marcahuasi, and here shown to also present elsewhere in Peru, can also been seen in Yonaguni, see below:

 
Probably electronically sharpened, hence the unusual clarity of the image.   Image on the mountain at Ollantaytambo
     
A devil ray   Manta Iwa (Rock)1
"Totem" at South Shrine.   Statue from Tiahuanacu.
     
 
Face at Tachigami.
 		   Face ("Viracocha") at Ollantaytambo.
 
 
Snake at Yonaguni.   Snake at Moray.

For more examples from Peru, see the Marcahuasi gallery, and from Yonaguni, see the Yonaguni sculptures gallery.

Though the Yonaguni case is as yet not as certain as in Peru due to the quality and the small number of available pictures,  it can be concluded that while there are stylistic differences, there are also considerable stylistic parallels, and a great similarity in method.

All in all one can conclude that the stylistic similarities between the monuments at Yonagunu and those in Peru are considerably greater than those between successive European art styles, say Rococo and Biedermeier. So there are reasonable grounds to claim a connection between these cultures, though this connection is not a certainty.

If one wants to follow the line of investigation of this site and hasn't yet visited the Peru collection, go to the Peru Constructions gallery, and follow on from there. If one has, go to the Connections page, that  investigates the link of the Yonaguni and Peru sites with other sites from all over the world, including Andros and Bimini (contains many pictures and is slow to load by telephone).