Attention sci-fi enthusiasts: Your hopes of encountering a monolith reminiscent of “2001: A Space Odyssey” have come to an end — at least until another one emerges in this recent peculiar trend.
The mysterious mirrored monolith that suddenly materialized north of Las Vegas has been taken down, as confirmed by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department on Friday. However, the mystery of its origins and the individuals responsible for it remain unsolved.
Authorities initially disclosed the baffling discovery, which was ultimately removed due to concerns regarding public safety and the environment, on Monday. Two images depicted the shiny, rectangular metal slab towering 77 inches tall in the secluded desert landscape near Gass Peak.
“We come across many unusual things during hikes such as inadequate preparation for weather conditions, insufficient water supply… but take a look at this!” the post read.
Upon announcing its removal, the Las Vegas Police revealed that the structure was constructed from “reflective sheet metal folded into a triangle and fastened with rebar and concrete to the ground.”
This monolith was just the most recent in a series of similar structures that have popped up worldwide since at least 2020, when a nearly 12-foot monolith was discovered deep in the Utah desert and vanished shortly after. This occurrence sparked an internet frenzy during the pandemic era, with sleuths online attempting to uncover its origins.
This was followed by monoliths appearing and disappearing rapidly in Romania, California, Colorado, and again in Las Vegas, this time on Fremont Street, all within the same year. Most recently, a 10-foot steel monolith appeared in Wales in March.
The creators of most of the installations remain a mystery. An anonymous group of artists claimed responsibility for the California and Utah monoliths, but when the BBC inquired about their involvement in one found on an island off the southern coast of England, the group replied, “The monolith is out of my control at this point. Godspeed to all the aliens working hard around the globe to propagate the myth.”
The Las Vegas authorities stated that the latest discovered monolith is being held at an undisclosed location until a decision is made regarding its disposal or storage. They indicated that city police are not currently investigating the object or the “circumstances surrounding its existence” and advised the public against leaving behind any objects in the same area, which is part of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge, in order to protect the delicate wildlife inhabiting the area.
