Few modern-day structural mysteries have garnered as much international fascination as the tall, mirrored monolith columns that have appeared in seemingly random locations since 2020.
Reminiscent of the prehistoric Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England, but rooted in Millennium-era fictional lore, monoliths are long vertical metal slabs, each approximately 10 to 12 feet tall.
Monoliths are believed to stem from Arthur C. Clarke’s “Space Odyssey” series and Stanley Kubruck’s 1968 famed sci-fi film “2001: A Space Odyssey,” where aliens used large, black monolith-shaped machines as a guide to monitor and control humans’ evolution.
This Nov. 18, 2020, file photo provided by the Utah Department of Public Safety shows a metal monolith in the ground in a remote area of red rock in Utah. | In this Dec. 2, 2020, file photo, a monolith stands on a Stadium Park hillside in Atascadero, Calif. | In this Dec. 10, 2020, file photo, a metal structure resembling a metal monolith is seen near the Vistula river in Warsaw, Poland. | The Las Vegas Metro Police Department posted a photo to X showing a mysterious monolith near Gass Peak, north of the valley, near Las Vegas, on June 17, 2024.
Utah DPS via AP | The Tribune via AP | NurPhoto via AP | LVMPD/X
However, the scores of monoliths that have appeared around the world since 2020 look slightly different from those Clarke and Kubrick imagined — opting for a metal, often stainless steel structure.
From Utah in the United States, Wales in the United Kingdom and as far as Romania in southeastern Europe, these often unexplained structures have left officials and Internet sleuths questioning their makers and intentions.
Below is a timeline of monolith appearances internationally since 2020.
Nov. 18, 2020: Utah
The first unaccounted-for monolith appeared in Utah’s remote Red Rock Country on Nov. 18, 2020, during the height of the pandemic.
The Utah Department of Public Safety Aero Bureau was working to conduct a count of big horn sheep in a portion of southeastern Utah when crew members “spotted an unusual object” and landed nearby to investigate further, according to a press release at the time.
This Nov. 18, 2020, file photo provided by the Utah Department of Public Safety shows a metal monolith in the ground in a remote area of red rock in Utah.
Utah Department of Public Safety via AP, FILE
The crew members discovered the metal monolith installed in the ground in a remote area of Red Rock, according to the release.
Just 10 days later, the monolith disappeared, with officials saying it was removed by an “unknown party.”
“We have received credible reports that the illegally installed structure, referred to as the ‘monolith’ has been removed by an unknown party,” the Utah Bureau of Land Management wrote on X on Nov. 28, 2020.
A man named Andy Lewis later took credit for the removal, sharing a YouTube video of him and a small crew detaching the monolith from the rocks.
“We removed the Utah Monolith because there are clear precedents for how we share and standardize the use of our public lands, natural wildlife, native plants, fresh water sources, and human impacts upon them,” Lewis said in an interview at the time.
Despite Utah officials never specifically saying where the monolith was located, online detectives allegedly found it on satellite images dating back to 2016 and determined its GPS coordinates, according to Britain’s The Independent at the time.
Nov. 27, 2020: Romania
Just as the monolith was removed from its location in Utah, another monolith was discovered across the world in Romania.
The prism was found near an archaeological site outside of the city of Piatra Neamt, on the plateau of Bâtca Doamnei, officials said at the time.
In this Nov. 27, 2020, file photo, a metal structure sticks out from the ground on the Batca Doamnei hill, outside Piatra Neamt, northern Romania.
Robert Iosub/ziarpiatraneamt.ro via AP, FILE
Piatra Neamt Mayor Andrei Carabelea took to Facebook to joke about the mysterious monolith in Romania, “My guess is that some alien, cheeky and terrible teenagers left home with their parents’ UFO and started planting metal monoliths around the world. First in Utah and then at Piatra Neamt. I am honored that they chose our city,” the mayor wrote.
Four days after it first appeared, the Romanian monolith disappeared as mysteriously as it arrived.
Dec. 2, 2020: California
The streak of monolith appearances continued the exact day the column was removed in Romania — this time in California.
On Dec. 2, 2020, another monolith was discovered on Pine Mountain in Atascadero, a city in San Luis Obispo County in central California.
The 10-foot-tall and approximately 18-inch-wide monolith was found by hikers two miles up from the base of the mountain, according to local reports.
In this Dec. 2, 2020, file photo, a monolith stands on a Stadium Park hillside in Atascadero, Calif.
Kaytlyn Leslie/The Tribune (of San Luis Obispo) via AP, FILE
“I think it disappeared in Utah and landed right here in Atascadero,” hiker Blake Kuhn told ABC News’ Fresno affiliate at the time.
However, unlike the mysteries surrounding the other monoliths, the makers of the California column came forward to reveal themselves.
The four men who created and installed the third monolith are Travis Kenney, his father Randall Kenney, Wade McKenzie and Jared Riddle, they said in a statement.
“The purpose of this project was to create a positive and encouraging environment in a rather negative 2020, a year that has been plagued with health issues, political separation, and systemic racism,” Riddle said in an interview with Your Tango. “This event separated all of that!”
December 2020: Various locations
After the Internet frenzy the string of back-to-back monoliths caused, several copycat monoliths started popping up around the world in Pittsburgh, Joshua Tree, Las Vegas, Boulder, Albuquerque, Russia, Colombia, Spain and more.
A Business Insider report in Dec. 2020 estimated there were 87 monolith sightings globally.
March 12, 2024: Wales
Years after the initial monolith obsession died down, the tall, mysterious structure reemerged in Wales, United Kingdom, in 2024.
A mysterious, roughly 10-foot-tall silver metal monolith was discovered on a muddy bluff in Wales by hiker Craig Muir.
Craig Muir via Storyful
The 10-foot-tall silver monolith was discovered in Hay-on-Wye in Powys, Wales, by construction worker Craig Muir while he was out for his regular hike.
Muir posted a video of the bizarre find on TikTok, saying, “I come up here most days, and I’ve never seen this before. Almost looks like a UFO just put it on the ground.”
June 17, 2024: Las Vegas
This month, the monolith mystery continued when the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department took to X to share two photos of the long, vertical slab of metal they said appeared on a hiking trail near Gass Peak on the northern side of the Las Vegas area.
“We see a lot of weird things when people go hiking like not being prepared for the weather, not bringing enough water… but check this out,” the department wrote alongside photos of the column.
The Las Vegas Metro Police Department posted a photo to X showing a mysterious monolith near Gass Peak, north of the valley, Las Vegas, NV, June 17, 2024.
LVMPD/X
In the photos, the tall, geometric figure reflects the rocky desert and perfectly aligns with the horizon.
A similar monolith appeared in downtown Las Vegas in December 2020, standing under the Fremont Street Experience canopy.
The monolith was removed by Las Vegas police on June 20, saying it was necessary “due to public safety and environmental concerns.”
Monoliths have long captured the imagination of people around the world. These mysterious columns, often made of a single large stone, have been found in various locations across the globe, sparking curiosity and speculation about their origins and purpose. From ancient civilizations to modern-day discoveries, monoliths continue to intrigue researchers and enthusiasts alike. Let’s take a closer look at the timeline of these enigmatic structures.
1. Gobekli Tepe (circa 9600-8800 BCE): Located in modern-day Turkey, Gobekli Tepe is one of the oldest known monolithic structures in the world. Built by hunter-gatherer societies, this site consists of massive stone pillars arranged in circular patterns, suggesting a religious or ceremonial purpose. The intricate carvings on the pillars depict various animals and symbols, hinting at a sophisticated level of craftsmanship and symbolism.
2. Stonehenge (circa 3000-2000 BCE): Perhaps the most famous monolith in the world, Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in England. Comprised of large standing stones arranged in a circular formation, this site has puzzled archaeologists for centuries. The purpose of Stonehenge remains a subject of debate, with theories ranging from a burial site to an astronomical observatory.
3. Easter Island Moai (circa 1400-1600 CE): The Moai statues of Easter Island are another example of monolithic structures that have captivated researchers and tourists alike. These colossal stone figures, carved by the Rapa Nui people, are believed to represent ancestral chiefs or deities. The mystery surrounding how these statues were transported and erected on the remote island continues to intrigue scholars.
4. Georgia Guidestones (1980): In a more modern context, the Georgia Guidestones are a set of granite monoliths erected in Georgia, USA. These stones are inscribed with ten guidelines for humanity in eight different languages, sparking controversy and speculation about their origin and purpose. The identity of the person or group responsible for commissioning the Guidestones remains unknown.
5. Utah Monolith (2020): In November 2020, a mysterious monolith was discovered in a remote desert area in Utah, USA. The shiny metal structure, measuring around 10-12 feet tall, appeared seemingly out of nowhere, sparking theories about its origin and meaning. The monolith was later removed by unknown individuals, adding to the intrigue surrounding its sudden appearance.
Monoliths have fascinated people throughout history, serving as symbols of human ingenuity and creativity. Whether ancient relics or modern-day installations, these mysterious columns continue to provoke curiosity and inspire wonder. As researchers uncover more about the origins and significance of monoliths around the world, we may gain a deeper understanding of our shared human history and the enduring allure of these enigmatic structures.
