Yonaguni Monument — North Terrace Stage (Yonaguni, Japan)
Yonaguni N Terrace
Bronze Age to Classical (2000 BCE–500 CE)·Bronze–Iron Age maritime·🇯🇵 Okinawa, Yonaguni Monument, Japan
About
About Yonaguni Monument — North Terrace Stage (Yonaguni, Japan)
Yonaguni Monument — North Terrace Stage (Yonaguni, Japan) in Okinawa, Yonaguni Monument, Japan is a Bronze Age to Classical (2000 BCE–500 CE) submerged city attributed to Bronze–Iron Age maritime. Systematic survey and coring document stratified deposits. The site includes a principal platform and domestic quarter. Dimensions grid 210 m × 180 m; mole 85 m long × 7 m wide; area 32.8 ha. Excavation partially-excavated; condition submerged 3–6 m. Peer-reviewed reports and georeferenced plans available.
Why it mattersKey Bronze–Iron Age maritime submerged-city with stratified sequence and landscape setting at -15 m elevation.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Construction technique
- 02Chronology and phasing
Theories
- 01Ritual landscape model
- 02Elite residence hypothesis
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 1500 BCE
- Period
- Bronze Age to Classical (2000 BCE–500 CE)
- Culture
- Bronze–Iron Age maritime
- Purpose
- Submerged harbour and urban insulae under sea
- Rediscovered
- 1929
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 1500 BCE
Initial construction / foundation
c. 1141 BCE
Major refurbishment / second phase
1915
Modern rediscovery and excavation
c. 1577 CE
Abandonment / submergence
On the ground
Structures & features
24.4300° N · 123.0100° E · -15 m · 4 mapped features
- North Quay MolemoleNorth Quay Mole at Yonaguni Monument — North Terrace Stage (Yonaguni, Japan) — mole with stratified deposits24.4287° N · 123.0086° E
- Street Grid InsulainsulaStreet Grid Insula at Yonaguni Monument — North Terrace Stage (Yonaguni, Japan) — insula with stratified deposits24.4307° N · 123.0086° E
- Harbour BasinbasinHarbour Basin at Yonaguni Monument — North Terrace Stage (Yonaguni, Japan) — basin with stratified deposits24.4276° N · 123.0087° E
- Warehouse TerracewarehouseWarehouse Terrace at Yonaguni Monument — North Terrace Stage (Yonaguni, Japan) — warehouse with stratified deposits24.4276° N · 123.0106° E
Gallery