YONAGUNI ANALYSIS

The author came to know about the Yonaguni monument at about 1995 by a remark in some publication about “a rectangular steps-like structure that was reported by Japanese divers, which was possibly of artificial nature". At the moment the artificiality is still under discussion , especially among archaeologists (though most of them ignore the existence of the finds). What is remarkable are the arguments used by the 'natural origin' proponents, e.g. that only part of the structure is of natural origin, or that the tools associated with its construction have not been found. The first argument is ridiculous: even it were 99% natural, the only thing that matters is the 1% of artificial origin (sceptics are invited to look at the pictures here, and/or the movies here) . The second argument applies equally well to the pyramids of Gizeh. What the natural origin proponents need to do is to make rules in order to distinguish natural from artificial, apply these rules to (archaeological) constructions they consider artificial and see if they comply, and then apply the rules to Yonaguni. The author has formulated a simple set of rules here, that works well on constructions the archaeologists admit to being artificial, like the pyramids of Gizeh. According to these rules, Yonaguni is artificial to the same degree of certainty as the pyramids of Gizeh. So here is taken, on the basis of the rules of good science, that the Yonaguni monument and its surrounding structures are artificial.

Taken that the monument is artificial, there are two major characteristics: the blend of natural and artificial features to such a degree that it is hard to tell them apart, and secondly the highly stylized nature of the artificial features. Expressed in Western artistic styles, the level of stylization and abstractness is somewhere between cubism and the paintings of Mondriaan ("The Style"), with the difference that the method of expression is not only straight lines, but also the natural rock structure.

However, from a purely archaeological point of view, maybe the most important aspect of the Yonaguni ruins are that that they are located below some tens of meters of water, because this puts it at least many thousands of years back in history. In fact, its seems probable that it is this aspect of the monument that has kept the discussion on its artificiality alive; there is little doubt that if the monument were safely above ground, its artificiliaty would be beyond question. However, having such a monument of such an age is a very big problem for the known order of history.

Besides its artificiality, there is another archaeologically rather important aspect of the monument that looks obvious seeing the step structures with their combination of straight and non-straight angles: a similarity to the constructions in Peru, specifically Machu Picchu. Further investigation of this possible connection is found in the Yonaguni-Peru gallery. If one hasn't yet visited the Peru collection, and wants to follow the line of investigation of this site, go to the Machu Picchu gallery, and follow on from there. For a direct step to other subjects, like the underwater finds at Andros and Bimini, see the menu.