Professor Kimura and his students show below a variety of artifacts, including carved stones with recognisable
symbols and a number of underwater megaliths showing distinct evidence of 'toolmarks' similar to other
examples of 'quarry marks' found on Yonaguni-jima (island) itself, have been discovered during
the course of more than a hundred dives around Yonaguni-jima over the past ten years.

the interview with Professor Masaaki Kimura continues ...

Morien Institute :
Carvings of symbols on one of those artifacts, a 'line-engraved stone tablet', are said to be similar to the artifact that has become known as 'The Okinawan Rosetta stone'. Can you speak about the history of the 'The Okinawan Rosetta stone', and also of the 'line-engraved stone tablet'?

Professor Masaaki Kimura :
"More than 10 sheets of tablets called 'Okinawa Rosetta stones' were discovered about 60 years ago at the western coast of Okinawa-jima (island). There exist similar symbols to the '+' and the 'v' carved on the submarine tablet."

Professor Masaaki Kimura holding one of the 'artifacts' recovered
from the sea-bed around the island of Yonaguni-jima

Copyright © 2002 Dr. Masaaki Kimura
-- Okinawa, Japan --

Morien Institute :
Are there any other artifacts with symbols or recognisable shapes carved on them that have been found underwater?

Professor Masaaki Kimura :
"We recovered a big cobble with relief of four-legged animal found underwater."

Morien Institute :
Are there any symbols found carved directly into the rock, either on the Yonaguni structure itself or nearby?

Professor Masaaki Kimura :
"Some symbols are carved on the western part of Yonaguni (the westernmost island of Japan) Pyramid and on the upper surface of the Kusabi (wedge) rock. It is not certain if they are artifacts."

Morien Institute :
I have seen photographs of the 'main' and 'upper' terraces on the Yonaguni monument, and also of the 'loop road' that winds around the bottom. What aspects of these features convince you that ancient peoples once used them as such?

Professor Masaaki Kimura :
"There are holes estimated to be used for pillars and drains for water on the upper terrace."

Morien Institute :
I gather that more evidence is coming to light about the methods used by ancient people to split the rock using wedges, and that this is true for samples both underwater off Iseki point and also on the island of Yonaguni itself. Can you give more details about this?

Professor Masaaki Kimura :
"There are many quarry marks on and off Yonaguni."

Morien Institute :
In February 1999 you presented a paper to The 11th Annual Symposium on Maritime Archaeology and History of Hawaii and the Pacific. Reading from the abstract, I was intrigued that you said, "The underwater structure off Yonaguni Island is called No. 1 monument or Iseki Point." Does that mean there are other monuments, maybe a No. 2 or No 3 monument, and if so, what are their locations?

Professor Masaaki Kimura :
" No.2 - 5 monuments are surrounding the No.1 monument."

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History's Mysteries

"Do undersea relics near Okinawa offer proof of a sophisticated civilization during the last ice age? Archeologists have long believed that civilization as we define it - intelligent, tool-making, monument building, social humans - began about 5,000 years ago. But submerged beneath the waves near the Japanese island of Yonaguni is evidence that may well overturn that long-held theory.

A small but persuasive number of scholars and scientists have long thought that "advanced" societies may have existed as long as 10,000 years ago. Their theories, however well reasoned and defended, have been hamstrung by a lack of evidence. But recent discoveries of man-made artifacts on the Pacific seafloor may well prove to be the smoking gun that will propel this alternative view of civilization to prominence".

"Japan's Mysterious Pyramids"
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