Apologies, sci-fi enthusiasts: Your chances of encountering a monolith reminiscent of “2001: A Space Odyssey” have come to an end — at least until another one emerges amidst this recent peculiar trend.
The mysterious mirrored monolith that surfaced north of Las Vegas over the weekend has been taken down, as confirmed by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department on Friday. However, the origins of its appearance and the responsible party remain unknown.
Authorities initially revealed the discovery of this enigmatic structure, which they removed due to safety and environmental concerns, on Monday. A couple of photos depicted the reflective, rectangular metal slab standing at a height of 77 inches amidst the isolated desert terrain near Gass Peak.
“We come across many odd things during hiking trips like lack of weather preparedness, insufficient water supply… but take a look at this!” the announcement stated.
Upon announcing its removal, Las Vegas Police described the structure as being constructed from “reflective sheet metal folded into a triangle and anchored with rebar and concrete into the ground.”
This monolith was just the latest in a series of similar structures that have appeared worldwide since at least 2020, starting with a nearly 12-foot structure discovered deep in Utah’s desert and then disappearing within days. This phenomenon triggered an internet frenzy during the pandemic, with online investigators attempting to uncover its origins.
Subsequently, monoliths emerged and vanished swiftly in Romania, California, Colorado, and once again in Las Vegas, this time on Fremont Street, all within the same year. Most recently, a 10-foot steel structure appeared in Wales in March.
The responsible parties behind most of these installations remain a mystery. An unidentified group of artists claimed credit for the California and Utah monoliths, but when questioned by the BBC about a monolith found on an island off England’s southern coast, the collective stated, “The monolith is out of my control at this point. Godspeed to all the aliens working hard around the globe to propagate the myth.”
Las Vegas officials stated that the most recently discovered monolith is being kept at an undisclosed location until a decision is made on the best course of action for disposal or storage. They clarified that city police are not currently investigating the object or the circumstances surrounding its presence and urged the public not to leave any items behind in the same area, which is part of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge, in order to protect the delicate wildlife that inhabits it.
