Mystery of the Monoliths: Art or Alien Artifact?
By Ed Malaker
![](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4204,h_2364,x_0,y_499/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/317/01j3dktkryzhcthz968y.jpg)
Since 2020, there have been several sightings of strange and mysterious monoliths in various locations, starting with a remote part of the Utah desert. These monoliths seem to appear out of nowhere with no signs giving away who might have installed them or how.
Common Features
- They are usually metal and have a smooth, shiny, reflective surface. They are 11 – 12 feet tall with a rectangular pillar shape, not that different from the one we see in Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey."
- We usually find them in isolated and sometimes difficult-to-access areas.
- They are firmly embedded, suggesting significant installation efforts, with no evidence left behind of such work.
- They stand out sharply from the surrounding landscape.
Theories
Work of an Artist
Most believe that the monoliths are the work of one or more artists, and some visitors who were able to make their way to the site in Utah were able to share some details about it, including riveted aluminum panels that sounded hollow and that it was not magnetic. They also found silicone glue and saw marks. However, it is still a mystery as to how someone would have gotten the equipment to the remote location unseen.
Many people believe the work points to artist John McCracken, who died in 2011, but may have wanted us to find his art this way, and he had some very similar pieces, like the John McCracken Magic from 2008. However, his team denies any involvement.
Aliens
A few believe that the monoliths are the work of aliens due to their appearance worldwide, each in a remote or hard-to-access location. The lack of evidence explaining their installation might also point to an alien origin.
Global Appearances and Disappearances
Following the Utah discovery, similar monoliths appeared in Romania, California, the Isle of Wight, and a Belgian field. After discovery, each one either vanished mysteriously or was taken down by authorities.
Cultural and Legal Implications
The installation and removal of these monoliths have raised questions about public art and vandalism, and authorities are labeling them as illegal installations on public land, so anyone caught creating one of these displays will likely face legal ramifications.
Where Have These Monoliths Been Found?
- Utah desert, USA
- Romanian hillside
- California Mountaintop, USA
- Isle of Wight Beach, UK
- Field in Baasrode, Belgium
- Additional sightings in Spain, Germany, Colombia, and other countries
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