1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:24,000 What are you thinking about the people who built this? 2 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:27,120 Are they all the lost in civilization of some kind? 3 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:28,120 What is that? 4 00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:30,120 Looks like face. 5 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:42,120 Oh my God, it's a face. 6 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:46,920 You've all heard the myth of Atlantis, an ancient and technologically advanced civilization 7 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:48,440 that was swallowed by the sea. 8 00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:58,440 But what if I told you that a place like Atlantis might actually exist? 9 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:02,960 Hiding beneath the waves of southern Japan is a mystery, a massive and perplexing stone 10 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:07,960 edifice called the Yanaguni Ruins. 11 00:01:07,960 --> 00:01:12,160 Its detailed structure and precise angles appear to have been man-made. 12 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:16,680 Yet since the site was discovered by divers decades ago, it has done nothing but divide 13 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:18,720 the scientific community. 14 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:23,680 To some, Yanaguni is the last remnant of an advanced culture, thousands of years older 15 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:27,360 than the pyramids in Egypt. 16 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:32,560 Skeptics however believe the formations are a natural, albeit strange, geological formation. 17 00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:37,000 But now, evidence collected from the site, including intricate carvings and potentially 18 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:42,240 man-made objects, could answer the question once and for all. 19 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:45,160 Now the bad news. 20 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:46,660 The ruins are remote. 21 00:01:46,660 --> 00:01:50,100 They're located off a volcanic island in the East China Sea. 22 00:01:50,100 --> 00:01:54,660 The waters there are swirling with deadly currents and it's a breeding ground for hammerhead 23 00:01:54,660 --> 00:01:57,160 sharks. 24 00:01:57,160 --> 00:02:01,660 But the only way to know if the Yanaguni ruins are the archaeological find of the century 25 00:02:01,660 --> 00:02:06,900 is to examine the newest evidence and then dive down and study the site firsthand. 26 00:02:06,900 --> 00:02:15,180 So what are we sitting here for? 27 00:02:15,180 --> 00:02:17,060 My name is Josh Gates. 28 00:02:17,060 --> 00:02:24,060 With a degree in archaeology and a passion for exploration, I have a tendency to end 29 00:02:24,060 --> 00:02:26,260 up in some very strange situations. 30 00:02:26,260 --> 00:02:30,220 God lord have! 31 00:02:30,220 --> 00:02:34,940 My travels have taken me to the ends of the earth as I investigate the greatest legends 32 00:02:34,940 --> 00:02:35,940 in history. 33 00:02:35,940 --> 00:02:37,700 We're going to fly, let's go. 34 00:02:37,700 --> 00:02:39,540 This is Expedition Unknown. 35 00:02:45,420 --> 00:02:48,380 Just getting to Yanaguni is a challenge in itself. 36 00:02:48,380 --> 00:02:52,620 From New York I fly to the west coast, then across the Pacific to Tokyo, and then on to 37 00:02:52,620 --> 00:02:56,900 another flight down to the tiny island. 38 00:02:56,900 --> 00:03:01,260 After 22 hours of travel, I touch down. 39 00:03:01,260 --> 00:03:07,180 Delirious and enthusiastic for the adventure ahead. 40 00:03:07,180 --> 00:03:08,940 Small island. 41 00:03:08,940 --> 00:03:12,300 Small ride. 42 00:03:12,420 --> 00:03:14,180 Time to see what this place is all about. 43 00:03:14,180 --> 00:03:19,980 Before I rendezvous with Kihachiro Arutake, the expert who first discovered the ruins. 44 00:03:19,980 --> 00:03:21,980 Welcome to Yanaguni Island. 45 00:03:21,980 --> 00:03:23,480 Not exactly a bustling spot. 46 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:28,980 It's only about 11 square miles, home to about 1500 people and I have seen exactly 47 00:03:28,980 --> 00:03:29,980 zero of them so far. 48 00:03:29,980 --> 00:03:31,980 I've heard this island referred to as quiet. 49 00:03:31,980 --> 00:03:34,980 I think that's something of an understatement. 50 00:03:34,980 --> 00:03:41,220 Sometime in the walking dead out here. 51 00:03:41,220 --> 00:03:47,580 In fact, it's so laid back that there's just one stoplight on the entire island. 52 00:03:47,580 --> 00:03:50,940 It's a world away from the frenetic Japanese cities to the north. 53 00:03:50,940 --> 00:03:54,500 A place that seems perfectly content to just be. 54 00:03:54,500 --> 00:03:59,100 Fishing dominates the local economy and every facet of daily life seems connected to the 55 00:03:59,100 --> 00:04:01,100 sea. 56 00:04:01,100 --> 00:04:04,300 Yanaguni is quiet because it's so remote. 57 00:04:04,300 --> 00:04:09,380 It's actually Japan's westernmost point, just 70 miles from the shores of Taiwan. 58 00:04:09,540 --> 00:04:13,700 Besides the undersea ruins I've come to investigate, I pull over and walk through the woods to 59 00:04:13,700 --> 00:04:18,540 see Yanaguni's other bizarre local draw. 60 00:04:18,540 --> 00:04:24,580 This appears to be a 200 foot long child's slide made out of scorching hot metal and 61 00:04:24,580 --> 00:04:26,180 rollers from a meat packing factory. 62 00:04:26,180 --> 00:04:30,860 In the United States, this slide would exist for one day before a class action lawsuit shut 63 00:04:30,860 --> 00:04:31,860 it down. 64 00:04:31,860 --> 00:04:36,940 I don't know why this exists in this island, but here it is just waiting for some idiot 65 00:04:36,940 --> 00:04:39,060 to try it out. 66 00:04:39,060 --> 00:04:41,740 Here we go. 67 00:04:41,740 --> 00:04:48,740 Oh my God, people have built this tested. 68 00:04:48,740 --> 00:05:01,340 What a wonderful ride for all the kids. 69 00:05:01,340 --> 00:05:05,300 The real attraction on this island though is submerged just offshore. 70 00:05:06,260 --> 00:05:10,260 So if I had any chance of understanding the Yanaguni ruins, I obviously have to see them 71 00:05:10,260 --> 00:05:11,260 first hand. 72 00:05:11,260 --> 00:05:19,620 And to do that, I'm going to meet with a man who discovered Yanaguni. 73 00:05:19,620 --> 00:05:24,020 I arrive at the docks to meet with legendary diver, Kihachiro Arutake. 74 00:05:24,020 --> 00:05:28,900 Arutake not only found the Yanaguni ruins, but he continues to study the site for evidence 75 00:05:28,900 --> 00:05:29,900 of human construction. 76 00:05:29,900 --> 00:05:30,900 Hi there, I'm Josh. 77 00:05:30,900 --> 00:05:33,180 Thanks for having me aboard. 78 00:05:33,180 --> 00:05:54,620 I'm thrilled that he's agreed to let me tag along on his latest survey. 79 00:05:54,620 --> 00:05:59,220 Once we're clear of the harbor, Mr. Arutake and his son Shorty recount the discovery of 80 00:05:59,220 --> 00:06:00,220 the site. 81 00:06:00,380 --> 00:06:03,380 When did you first find the Yanaguni ruins? 82 00:06:03,380 --> 00:06:04,380 1986. 83 00:06:04,380 --> 00:06:05,380 1986? 84 00:06:05,380 --> 00:06:06,380 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 85 00:06:06,380 --> 00:06:07,380 Driving research. 86 00:06:07,380 --> 00:06:08,380 Driving research? 87 00:06:08,380 --> 00:06:09,380 Yeah. 88 00:06:09,380 --> 00:06:11,380 When you saw it, what did you think? 89 00:06:11,380 --> 00:06:13,300 Underwater Machu Picchu. 90 00:06:13,300 --> 00:06:14,300 Looks like Machu Picchu. 91 00:06:14,300 --> 00:06:15,660 Yeah, he got goose bumps. 92 00:06:15,660 --> 00:06:18,140 Did you immediately think that it was man-made? 93 00:06:18,140 --> 00:06:21,700 It's unlike anything you've ever seen before. 94 00:06:21,700 --> 00:06:25,740 Once I saw the site, there was no doubt in my mind it must be man-made. 95 00:06:25,740 --> 00:06:27,740 Who do you think made the site? 96 00:06:27,740 --> 00:06:32,740 Only God knows. 97 00:06:32,740 --> 00:06:36,220 Only God knows. 98 00:06:36,220 --> 00:06:37,220 Here's the rub. 99 00:06:37,220 --> 00:06:42,380 The discovery of the Yanaguni ruins could be a groundbreaking find, but only if someone 100 00:06:42,380 --> 00:06:44,340 can prove that it's man-made. 101 00:06:44,340 --> 00:06:47,700 And so far, that's been surprisingly difficult. 102 00:06:47,700 --> 00:06:52,500 Supporters like Arutake believe the ruins date back more than 4,000 years. 103 00:06:52,500 --> 00:06:57,100 They claim that it was once a coastal city, a towering structure of rock-cut temples and 104 00:06:57,100 --> 00:07:03,140 massive stone architecture that was swallowed by an earthquake like the legendary Atlantis. 105 00:07:03,140 --> 00:07:13,580 As we approach the dive site, a looming rock formation comes into view. 106 00:07:13,580 --> 00:07:20,820 Tachigami Iwa, which means standing godrock, towers above the submerged ruins like a sentinel. 107 00:07:20,820 --> 00:07:26,420 It's a jaw-dropping wonder that some believe also has signs of ancient human construction. 108 00:07:26,420 --> 00:07:27,420 Are you ready? 109 00:07:27,420 --> 00:07:28,420 Yeah. 110 00:07:28,420 --> 00:07:31,420 Man, do people tell you that you look like Bruno Mars? 111 00:07:31,420 --> 00:07:32,420 Bruno Mars? 112 00:07:32,420 --> 00:07:33,420 Yeah. 113 00:07:33,420 --> 00:07:34,420 Sometimes. 114 00:07:34,420 --> 00:07:35,420 That's a compliment. 115 00:07:35,420 --> 00:07:38,420 I'm telling you, if we get some rollers in your hair, it's full uptown fog on this boat 116 00:07:38,420 --> 00:07:44,060 right now. 117 00:07:44,060 --> 00:07:48,740 Mr. Arutake's boat has a glass bottom, and I head below decks for my first look at just 118 00:07:48,740 --> 00:07:52,500 how difficult this dive can be. 119 00:07:52,500 --> 00:07:56,500 Really hard to maneuver in here, especially with these huge underwater rock formations. 120 00:07:56,500 --> 00:08:00,860 This can be one of the most challenging dives in the world because there's incredible rip 121 00:08:00,860 --> 00:08:01,860 currents here. 122 00:08:01,860 --> 00:08:05,220 The boat is going to get to the best position it can, we're going to exit, and then the 123 00:08:05,220 --> 00:08:08,620 curve is going to take us to a different position where the boat will pick us up. 124 00:08:08,620 --> 00:08:12,740 Okay, let's get suited up. 125 00:08:12,740 --> 00:08:15,420 I head topside and get geared up for the dive. 126 00:08:15,420 --> 00:08:17,420 Overhead is a deep current. 127 00:08:17,420 --> 00:08:21,660 The way that I understand it from him, you don't really get a second pass at it because 128 00:08:21,660 --> 00:08:23,660 the current just pulls you along the side. 129 00:08:23,660 --> 00:08:27,660 So I think we drop down deep and then we just follow Erotaki and drop him as we go. 130 00:08:27,660 --> 00:08:28,660 Look back once in a while, bro. 131 00:08:28,660 --> 00:08:29,660 All right, don't lose me. 132 00:08:29,660 --> 00:08:30,660 Yeah. 133 00:08:30,660 --> 00:08:35,620 I don't know what to expect, but honestly, I'm skeptical that whatever I'm about to 134 00:08:35,620 --> 00:08:37,620 see is really a man-made Atlantis. 135 00:08:37,620 --> 00:08:38,620 Let's go. 136 00:08:38,620 --> 00:08:39,620 Yeah, I'm ready. 137 00:08:39,620 --> 00:08:40,620 Let's do it. 138 00:08:40,620 --> 00:08:52,460 We are descending down toward the ruins. 139 00:08:52,460 --> 00:08:56,580 We've entered the water just west of the dive site, so the powerful current will drag 140 00:08:56,580 --> 00:08:57,580 us toward it. 141 00:08:57,580 --> 00:09:02,580 We are off the bottom now, making our way to some sort of passage. 142 00:09:02,580 --> 00:09:06,300 Looks like a narrow tunnel of some sort. 143 00:09:06,300 --> 00:09:11,140 I follow Erotaki through the tunnel, and once we emerge on the other side, I get my first 144 00:09:11,140 --> 00:09:14,740 look at the mystery that is the Yanaguni ruins. 145 00:09:14,740 --> 00:09:26,220 Oh my God. 146 00:09:26,220 --> 00:09:31,740 I'm off the coast of a remote island, exploring what's known as the Japanese Atlantis, a massive 147 00:09:31,740 --> 00:09:35,260 underwater rock formation called the Yanaguni ruins. 148 00:09:35,300 --> 00:09:40,540 I follow my guide through a strange tunnel, and once we emerge on the other side, I'm stunned 149 00:09:40,540 --> 00:09:41,540 by what I see. 150 00:09:41,540 --> 00:09:42,540 Oh my God. 151 00:09:42,540 --> 00:09:45,540 The tunnel opens up to a huge rock structure just off the Norvus. 152 00:09:45,540 --> 00:09:51,540 To these gigantic rocks that look like armalests, they must be 20 feet tall. 153 00:09:51,540 --> 00:09:58,540 There are some sort of holes with slits on the side that cover them. 154 00:09:58,540 --> 00:10:11,140 They look like markings of some kind. 155 00:10:11,140 --> 00:10:16,140 After a short swim around the point, the full scope of Yanaguni comes into view. 156 00:10:16,140 --> 00:10:19,140 Oh my God. 157 00:10:19,140 --> 00:10:22,140 It's really amazing. 158 00:10:22,140 --> 00:10:24,140 It's enormous. 159 00:10:24,140 --> 00:10:27,940 No much bigger than I expected. 160 00:10:27,940 --> 00:10:32,180 The western side of the site opens up to what's called the main terrace, and what appear to 161 00:10:32,180 --> 00:10:35,180 be steps cut at 90 degree angles. 162 00:10:35,180 --> 00:10:38,180 Looks like one of the same stairs. 163 00:10:38,180 --> 00:10:41,180 I wasn't expecting something this architectural. 164 00:10:41,180 --> 00:10:48,580 Everywhere you look, there seems to be some sort of white angle straight line. 165 00:10:49,020 --> 00:10:52,340 There's a fierce debate as to whether these are the remains of a civilization older than 166 00:10:52,340 --> 00:10:57,060 the pyramids, or simply a bizarre natural formation. 167 00:10:57,060 --> 00:11:03,540 We get swept along by the current, which pulls us from one bizarre site to the next. 168 00:11:03,540 --> 00:11:06,300 The steps lead to what's called the upper terrace. 169 00:11:06,300 --> 00:11:11,700 This is the top of the monument, and it's covered in what certainly looks like cut channels, 170 00:11:11,700 --> 00:11:13,700 which some believe were used for drainage. 171 00:11:14,700 --> 00:11:20,700 None of this looks exited to at all feels very designed. 172 00:11:20,700 --> 00:11:26,700 As the current continues to push us east, we come to a place called the pool. 173 00:11:28,700 --> 00:11:31,700 Some sort of triangular depression here. 174 00:11:31,700 --> 00:11:34,700 It's absolutely huge. 175 00:11:34,700 --> 00:11:38,700 This wedge-shaped depression could have stored water for ceremonies. 176 00:11:38,700 --> 00:11:41,700 Some sort of holes on the side. 177 00:11:41,700 --> 00:11:47,700 Several perfectly round holes around the perimeter look to be drilled down into the rock. 178 00:11:48,700 --> 00:11:51,700 I'm coming upon a large trench. 179 00:11:52,700 --> 00:11:54,700 Holy s***! 180 00:11:56,700 --> 00:12:02,700 It looks like a kind of hole, almost like a temple. 181 00:12:03,700 --> 00:12:06,700 I'm going to pull up a loose rock stand here. 182 00:12:06,700 --> 00:12:09,700 I'm going to collect these for lead analysis. 183 00:12:09,700 --> 00:12:14,700 Analysis of the rock sample could determine how old the site is, and just as importantly, 184 00:12:14,700 --> 00:12:16,700 how it came to be. 185 00:12:16,700 --> 00:12:22,700 Floating upwards out of the trench, I met with an undeniably artistic-looking formation. 186 00:12:23,700 --> 00:12:25,700 This is known as the turtle. 187 00:12:25,700 --> 00:12:31,700 It almost looks like a carved structure with this triangular point. 188 00:12:31,700 --> 00:12:37,700 The lines and angles look, well, they look perfect, and to be honest, my skepticism is suddenly fading. 189 00:12:37,700 --> 00:12:39,700 That is wild. 190 00:12:40,700 --> 00:12:43,700 There's one more part of the ruins that Arataki wants me to see. 191 00:12:43,700 --> 00:12:49,700 We swim around to the east, and I'm shocked to see something that appears to be looking back at me. 192 00:12:50,700 --> 00:12:52,700 Oh, this is incredible! 193 00:12:54,700 --> 00:12:56,700 Looks like a face! 194 00:12:56,700 --> 00:12:59,700 They are compared to me two eye sockets. 195 00:12:59,700 --> 00:13:04,700 This particle cut could be the nose, and it's seen in defined growth. 196 00:13:04,700 --> 00:13:08,700 Also, weirdly symmetrical clearly straight. 197 00:13:09,700 --> 00:13:15,700 My head is spinning with everything that I've just seen, but the current is picking up and our air is getting low. 198 00:13:25,700 --> 00:13:31,700 As we get pulled by the swirling water, Arataki releases an emergency buoy to let his team know where to collect us. 199 00:13:32,700 --> 00:13:37,700 The boat adjusts course toward our beacon and carefully navigates into position. 200 00:13:41,700 --> 00:13:47,700 Since the vessel is unable to anchor in these conditions, getting back on the boat is like climbing onto a moving train. 201 00:13:47,700 --> 00:13:51,700 Miss the ladder, and you've got a decent chance of getting diced up in the propeller. 202 00:14:02,700 --> 00:14:07,700 Once we're safely aboard, I'm left to figure out exactly what it is I just saw. 203 00:14:25,700 --> 00:14:27,700 Easier said than done. 204 00:14:27,700 --> 00:14:31,700 To get to the bottom of the mystery, I'll have to meet with experts in both camps. 205 00:14:31,700 --> 00:14:36,700 I'm going to start with the latest evidence that the site is, in fact, a sunken ruin. 206 00:14:37,700 --> 00:14:43,700 Okay, first order of business is to take a closer look at the island above the water. 207 00:14:43,700 --> 00:14:50,700 Figure out if there's anything up here that could really give us any clues as to whether or not the Yanaguni ruins were made by man. 208 00:14:52,700 --> 00:14:57,700 Before it was part of Japan, Yanaguni and other volcanic islands were part of the Ryukyu Kingdom. 209 00:14:57,700 --> 00:15:02,700 The Ryukus were an independent civilization that spent 400 years torn between China and Japan. 210 00:15:02,700 --> 00:15:07,700 Before being annexed by Japan in 1879, and there's still evidence of their culture today. 211 00:15:07,700 --> 00:15:12,700 I pass by hundreds of strange tombs in Yanaguni's lonely graveyard. 212 00:15:12,700 --> 00:15:18,700 They resemble curved turtle shells, and there are terraced steps that resemble the shape of the underwater formation. 213 00:15:20,700 --> 00:15:24,700 I've heard that locals here have discovered a stone carving in the jungle, 214 00:15:24,700 --> 00:15:27,700 said to be almost a stone-cutting rock. 215 00:15:27,700 --> 00:15:31,700 I've heard that locals here have discovered a stone carving in the jungle, 216 00:15:31,700 --> 00:15:35,700 said to be almost identical to the face found underwater at Yanaguni. 217 00:15:37,700 --> 00:15:41,700 Masahiro Tanaka is a researcher here who's volunteered to share the findings with me. 218 00:15:41,700 --> 00:15:42,700 Nice to meet you. 219 00:15:42,700 --> 00:15:43,700 Nice to meet you too. 220 00:15:44,700 --> 00:15:49,700 I've read that there's this rock structure high up on the island that may be related to the Yanaguni ruins. 221 00:15:49,700 --> 00:15:51,700 I've heard you're the guy to talk to about it. 222 00:15:52,700 --> 00:15:56,700 Yes, it's a formation that we think is carved. 223 00:15:56,700 --> 00:15:58,700 It appears to be an alien face. 224 00:15:58,700 --> 00:15:59,700 Like an alien face? 225 00:15:59,700 --> 00:16:01,700 I... really. 226 00:16:01,700 --> 00:16:03,700 Okay, well, let's saddle up. 227 00:16:09,700 --> 00:16:15,700 The carving is hard to reach, located high atop a steep cliff that overlooks the Yanaguni coast. 228 00:16:16,700 --> 00:16:18,700 Feels like another world in here. 229 00:16:18,700 --> 00:16:19,700 Yeah, arigato. 230 00:16:20,700 --> 00:16:24,700 Really, really dense, a coral path. 231 00:16:24,700 --> 00:16:25,700 Definitely. 232 00:16:25,700 --> 00:16:28,700 This would not have been a fun ride on a motorbike. 233 00:16:28,700 --> 00:16:29,700 That's a tree. 234 00:16:30,700 --> 00:16:31,700 Fine, don't worry about it. 235 00:16:31,700 --> 00:16:32,700 I got it. 236 00:16:32,700 --> 00:16:34,700 Okay, whoa, whoa, whoa. 237 00:16:34,700 --> 00:16:35,700 Koki, come on. 238 00:16:35,700 --> 00:16:37,700 This horse is like dying to run. 239 00:16:38,700 --> 00:16:40,700 Okay, go, go, go. 240 00:16:41,700 --> 00:16:47,700 Yanaguni has this very small breed of horse, but they're very powerful and very fast. 241 00:16:47,700 --> 00:16:48,700 What's his name? 242 00:16:48,700 --> 00:16:49,700 Daruta. 243 00:16:49,700 --> 00:16:50,700 Daruta? 244 00:16:50,700 --> 00:16:52,700 Is that Japanese for sea biscuit? 245 00:16:52,700 --> 00:16:53,700 Sea biscuit? 246 00:16:54,700 --> 00:16:59,700 I'm doing everything in my power to keep this horse from just breaking out into a full gallop. 247 00:17:00,700 --> 00:17:01,700 This horse wants to move. 248 00:17:01,700 --> 00:17:03,700 This is crazy! 249 00:17:04,700 --> 00:17:06,700 Slow it down there, girl. 250 00:17:07,700 --> 00:17:08,700 Good lord! 251 00:17:16,700 --> 00:17:23,700 In the jungle of a Japanese island, I'm searching for an ancient rock carving that could help prove that the sunken Yanaguni ruins are from a lost city. 252 00:17:24,700 --> 00:17:26,700 It's called the Yanaguni civilization. 253 00:17:27,700 --> 00:17:29,700 Okay, whoa, whoa, whoa. 254 00:17:29,700 --> 00:17:31,700 This horse wants to move. 255 00:17:31,700 --> 00:17:33,700 This is crazy! 256 00:17:34,700 --> 00:17:36,700 Slow it down there, girl. 257 00:17:37,700 --> 00:17:38,700 Good lord! 258 00:17:46,700 --> 00:17:48,700 This horse is like a fucking rocket. 259 00:17:48,700 --> 00:17:50,700 My horse wants to race. 260 00:17:51,700 --> 00:17:57,700 After placing in the inaugural Yanaguni derby, my horse finally slows his pace. 261 00:17:58,700 --> 00:18:00,700 We dismount and walk into the jungle on foot. 262 00:18:01,700 --> 00:18:02,700 Wow. 263 00:18:03,700 --> 00:18:05,700 Oh, whoa. 264 00:18:06,700 --> 00:18:07,700 That looks like face. 265 00:18:07,700 --> 00:18:08,700 Big time. 266 00:18:08,700 --> 00:18:09,700 This is the bell. 267 00:18:09,700 --> 00:18:10,700 Oh, a tongue. 268 00:18:10,700 --> 00:18:12,700 It's like a tongue coming out of the mouth. 269 00:18:12,700 --> 00:18:14,700 There are some really compelling elements here. 270 00:18:14,700 --> 00:18:16,700 This especially looks really sculpted here. 271 00:18:16,700 --> 00:18:21,700 We have this almond-shaped socket and you can see the same kind of arc over here on this side. 272 00:18:21,700 --> 00:18:24,700 And it looks like a brow and it has the general shape of a face. 273 00:18:24,700 --> 00:18:26,700 And as you said, a tongue sticking out. 274 00:18:26,700 --> 00:18:27,700 It's really compelling. 275 00:18:28,700 --> 00:18:32,700 There's no missing it and no mistaking it for anything other than a human face. 276 00:18:32,700 --> 00:18:36,700 Much like the ruins, though, its origins are a complete unknown. 277 00:18:36,700 --> 00:18:38,700 This looks like something from the Goonies. 278 00:18:38,700 --> 00:18:40,700 You know the Goonies? 279 00:18:41,700 --> 00:18:42,700 Yanagunies? 280 00:18:43,700 --> 00:18:44,700 No? 281 00:18:44,700 --> 00:18:50,700 This case, Masuhiro may not be up on his 80s American pop movie references, but that is a solid joke, people. 282 00:18:52,700 --> 00:18:56,700 And you think this could be related to Yanaguni, to the ruins? 283 00:18:57,700 --> 00:18:59,700 This mountain overlooks the ruins. 284 00:19:00,700 --> 00:19:05,700 Many believe that this face is a totem, a guardian for underwater ruins. 285 00:19:05,700 --> 00:19:07,700 This is sort of watching over the ruins then? 286 00:19:08,700 --> 00:19:10,700 Yes, this is considered a holy site. 287 00:19:10,700 --> 00:19:13,700 Remove your shoes. Let me show you something else. 288 00:19:13,700 --> 00:19:15,700 Okay, I'm behind you. Shoes off. Here we go. 289 00:19:23,700 --> 00:19:24,700 Wow! 290 00:19:25,700 --> 00:19:27,700 This is amazing up here. 291 00:19:28,700 --> 00:19:30,700 This is the best view on the island. 292 00:19:33,700 --> 00:19:34,700 What is this? 293 00:19:35,700 --> 00:19:38,700 It's believed that this was used for rituals. 294 00:19:38,700 --> 00:19:41,700 A place for an offering. It's a perfectly circular depression. 295 00:19:41,700 --> 00:19:43,700 This is a very strange site. 296 00:19:43,700 --> 00:19:49,700 I'd love to photograph the entire rock so that we can get a better look at its exact shape. 297 00:19:51,700 --> 00:19:54,700 I photographed the rock to create a detailed three-dimensional model. 298 00:19:54,700 --> 00:20:01,700 By comparing this to the supposed underwater face, we should be able to tell if these were deliberately constructed. 299 00:20:02,700 --> 00:20:07,700 Everything I've seen so far has been incredible, but also circumstantial. 300 00:20:07,700 --> 00:20:13,700 To get hard facts about Yanaguni, I need to consult with the leading scientist who's thoroughly studied the ruins. 301 00:20:16,700 --> 00:20:18,700 Hahaha! Okay. 302 00:20:24,700 --> 00:20:28,700 I catch a quick flight from Yanaguni to the largest of the Ryukyu Islands. Ok, now. 303 00:20:32,700 --> 00:20:38,700 Okinawa is sort of the other Japan. When we think of Japan, we tend to think of technology and neon lights. 304 00:20:38,700 --> 00:20:44,700 And here, it's tropical. It feels like you're in Hawaii and the locals are really laid back. 305 00:20:44,700 --> 00:20:48,700 It's just kind of a looking-glass version of the Japan we think we know. 306 00:20:50,700 --> 00:20:59,700 My meeting with the professor isn't for another hour, so I take a moment to explore Okinawa's culture, its people, and its creepy toys. 307 00:21:00,700 --> 00:21:05,700 This is a vending machine that dispenses toys in the shape of horribly depressed Japanese businessmen. 308 00:21:05,700 --> 00:21:10,700 Collect the whole set. I'm just hoping for this guy who lost it all in the stock market. 309 00:21:12,700 --> 00:21:16,700 Yes, here we go. This is literally a sad guy just staring at his smartphone. 310 00:21:18,700 --> 00:21:19,700 Why? 311 00:21:19,700 --> 00:21:22,700 Sir! No! Don't do it! Don't jump! 312 00:21:22,700 --> 00:21:25,700 Another vending machine dispenses, well... 313 00:21:26,700 --> 00:21:32,700 Japan, let's have a conversation here. I understand cultural differences, but you gotta cool it with this. This is weird. 314 00:21:33,700 --> 00:21:39,700 Next door, the market has several local delicacies on display. Among them, umibudo, savory sea grapes. 315 00:21:40,700 --> 00:21:44,700 And from this, you can make a tiny bottle of wine. It's this big. 316 00:21:44,700 --> 00:21:48,700 Like all of Southern Japan, life in Okinawa is dependent on the ocean. 317 00:21:48,700 --> 00:21:49,700 Can I see what you're cutting? 318 00:21:49,700 --> 00:21:50,700 Yeah, right there. 319 00:21:50,700 --> 00:21:51,700 Yeah? 320 00:21:51,700 --> 00:21:53,700 And that means really fresh sushi. 321 00:21:53,700 --> 00:21:55,700 Dude, this could be a sushi chef. 322 00:21:55,700 --> 00:21:56,700 Go ahead. 323 00:21:56,700 --> 00:21:57,700 I'm good? 324 00:21:57,700 --> 00:21:58,700 Yeah. 325 00:21:58,700 --> 00:21:59,700 Well, alright. Can I have a job here? Yes? 326 00:21:59,700 --> 00:22:00,700 Yeah. 327 00:22:00,700 --> 00:22:01,700 I can? 328 00:22:01,700 --> 00:22:02,700 Yeah. 329 00:22:02,700 --> 00:22:03,700 Excuse me. 330 00:22:03,700 --> 00:22:04,700 Hello. 331 00:22:04,700 --> 00:22:05,700 Can I have a seat? 332 00:22:05,700 --> 00:22:08,700 We are closed right now because I'm eating all of the food. 333 00:22:09,700 --> 00:22:10,700 Apologies. 334 00:22:12,700 --> 00:22:16,700 After quickly losing my job as a sushi chef, I'm back on the road. 335 00:22:16,700 --> 00:22:20,700 I'm headed to meet with a professor, Kimura, from the University of the Ryukus. 336 00:22:20,700 --> 00:22:25,700 This is really the guy who has been at the forefront of advocating for the Yanaguni ruins 337 00:22:25,700 --> 00:22:27,700 being a man-made structure. 338 00:22:27,700 --> 00:22:31,700 Nobody has done more research or work on the monument than this guy. 339 00:22:32,700 --> 00:22:40,700 Building the Yanaguni monument would have required advanced tools and techniques that weren't believed to exist in Japan thousands of years ago. 340 00:22:40,700 --> 00:22:47,700 If Professor Kimura's groundbreaking theory is correct, it would totally alter our understanding of human history. 341 00:22:47,700 --> 00:22:49,700 How old do you think this structure is? 342 00:22:49,700 --> 00:22:51,700 When do you think this was carved? 343 00:22:51,700 --> 00:22:59,700 We found coral samples on some of the rocks at the ruins and carbon tested them to determine that they are more than 3,000 years old. 344 00:22:59,700 --> 00:23:00,700 What do you think happened? 345 00:23:00,700 --> 00:23:03,700 Do you think that it sank into the ocean? 346 00:23:04,700 --> 00:23:08,700 I believe the monument was a religious site that was built on the shore. 347 00:23:09,700 --> 00:23:13,700 But shifting of the earth from plate tectonics and earthquakes caused it to sink. 348 00:23:14,700 --> 00:23:23,700 And what do you think about the people who built this? Are they a lost civilization of some kind or are these the people that became the Ryuku Islanders? 349 00:23:23,700 --> 00:23:32,700 The Ryuku people lacked the metal tools needed to carve the monument. It would have to have been built by ancient people who came from the mainland. 350 00:23:32,700 --> 00:23:37,700 When you first saw the site, what were the things that led you to believe that it's man-made? 351 00:23:38,700 --> 00:23:49,700 There are strange marks across the ruins that indicate the monument was cut using tools. We also recovered something amazing that may prove that the ruins were built by hand. 352 00:23:50,700 --> 00:23:51,700 Ho ho ho! 353 00:23:58,700 --> 00:24:07,700 In Okinawa, Japan, a meeting with a professor who believes he has evidence that the Atlantis-like structure known as the Yanaguni ruins is in fact man-made. 354 00:24:09,700 --> 00:24:10,700 That's a cross or an X. 355 00:24:10,700 --> 00:24:15,700 The professor reveals a rock fragment with an unmistakable cross carved into it. 356 00:24:15,700 --> 00:24:24,700 That looks 100% like it was carved there. That's very compelling. Are there other structures like this in the area or is this totally unique? 357 00:24:24,700 --> 00:24:32,700 You have to look at other ruins from the culture that followed Yanaguni. You'll find there are some very striking similarities. 358 00:24:32,700 --> 00:24:37,700 Before I go, I have to ask one last question for all the Yanaguni truthers out there. 359 00:24:38,700 --> 00:24:40,700 The number one question was this made by aliens? 360 00:24:41,700 --> 00:24:44,700 Wink if you believe it is and they're listening. 361 00:24:50,700 --> 00:24:57,700 Ok, so while there's no evidence here of alien construction, Kimura directs me to a place that might have a real link to Yanaguni. 362 00:24:57,700 --> 00:25:04,700 These are the remains of the Katsuren Castle built about 600 years ago in the 15th century by the Ryukyu Kingdom. 363 00:25:04,700 --> 00:25:07,700 You find castles like this all throughout these southern islands. 364 00:25:07,700 --> 00:25:14,700 Now, if the Yanaguni ruins are man-made, they would have been built thousands of years before castles like this. 365 00:25:14,700 --> 00:25:20,700 There is a kind of eerie similarity between the shape of the Yanaguni ruins and the design of these ruins. 366 00:25:21,700 --> 00:25:26,700 The dark stone, the tightly fitted angular blocks, the terrace like architecture. 367 00:25:26,700 --> 00:25:29,700 It all feels evocative of the underwater formation. 368 00:25:29,700 --> 00:25:36,700 Professor Kimura and others believe the advanced civilization that built Yanaguni didn't completely disappear after all. 369 00:25:36,700 --> 00:25:43,700 But others have a different view and one scientist has discovered something that might refute what I've learned from this. 370 00:25:44,700 --> 00:25:47,700 To reach him, I'm headed for yet another island. 371 00:25:50,700 --> 00:25:55,700 I fly north to Japan's main island and its second largest city of Osaka. 372 00:25:59,700 --> 00:26:05,700 It's a drizzly, blade runner kind of morning as some of the city's 2.7 million residents make their way to work. 373 00:26:05,700 --> 00:26:08,700 Like much of Japan, it's a very different country. 374 00:26:08,700 --> 00:26:10,700 The Japanese also love rules. 375 00:26:10,700 --> 00:26:14,700 No smoking, no bicycles, and no dancing. 376 00:26:14,700 --> 00:26:16,700 Ah, what the hell. 377 00:26:20,700 --> 00:26:23,700 The city is also famous for its eclectic food. 378 00:26:23,700 --> 00:26:24,700 I think that's it. 379 00:26:24,700 --> 00:26:26,700 I'm going to go and get some food. 380 00:26:26,700 --> 00:26:28,700 I'm going to get some food. 381 00:26:28,700 --> 00:26:30,700 I'm going to get some food. 382 00:26:30,700 --> 00:26:32,700 I'm going to get some food. 383 00:26:32,700 --> 00:26:34,700 I'm going to get some food. 384 00:26:34,700 --> 00:26:36,700 I'm going to get some food. 385 00:26:36,700 --> 00:26:38,700 I'm going to get some eclectic food. 386 00:26:38,700 --> 00:26:40,700 Okay, let's see what we got here. 387 00:26:40,700 --> 00:26:45,700 I opt for the omakase, which means chef's choice, as in, not yours. 388 00:26:47,700 --> 00:26:49,700 Yes, that is an octopus. 389 00:26:49,700 --> 00:26:50,700 Oh boy. 390 00:26:50,700 --> 00:26:54,700 The guy at the bar manages to kill my lunch before I have a chance to give him a name. 391 00:26:54,700 --> 00:26:56,700 This is crazy. 392 00:26:58,700 --> 00:27:01,700 I've never seen anything like that in my life. 393 00:27:02,700 --> 00:27:04,700 Alright, this looks great. 394 00:27:04,700 --> 00:27:05,700 Here we go. 395 00:27:07,700 --> 00:27:08,700 Mmm. 396 00:27:09,700 --> 00:27:10,700 It's fresh. 397 00:27:10,700 --> 00:27:11,700 Yes. 398 00:27:12,700 --> 00:27:15,700 It's pretty chewy, very alive. 399 00:27:15,700 --> 00:27:18,700 The suckers are sticking to my tongue. 400 00:27:18,700 --> 00:27:21,700 Oh, he's still got some fight left in him there. 401 00:27:21,700 --> 00:27:22,700 Oh my god. 402 00:27:22,700 --> 00:27:24,700 I feel like Captain Nemo right now. 403 00:27:24,700 --> 00:27:29,700 This is the first and only time that I've had a meal that sucked and didn't suck at the same time. 404 00:27:30,700 --> 00:27:36,700 After lunch, I head to a rural hillside just east of the city, where I meet with archaeologist 405 00:27:36,700 --> 00:27:41,700 Professor Michio Maisano, who has something incredible to show me. 406 00:27:41,700 --> 00:27:46,700 Together, we head into the soggy jungle and slog our way up a steep embankment. 407 00:27:46,700 --> 00:27:50,700 At the top is something totally otherworldly. 408 00:27:50,700 --> 00:27:52,700 What is that? 409 00:28:00,700 --> 00:28:02,700 That's the weirdest thing I've ever seen. 410 00:28:02,700 --> 00:28:04,700 What am I looking at here? What is this? 411 00:28:08,700 --> 00:28:10,700 It's called the rock ship. 412 00:28:11,700 --> 00:28:18,700 He thinks that the people were building a tomb with this rock, but abandoned. 413 00:28:18,700 --> 00:28:23,700 Maisano believes the tomb was carved nearly 1500 years ago as a burial. 414 00:28:23,700 --> 00:28:24,700 But who are we kidding? 415 00:28:24,700 --> 00:28:27,700 This thing looks like a crazy alien spaceship. 416 00:28:27,700 --> 00:28:28,700 What is it made of? Is it granite? 417 00:28:28,700 --> 00:28:29,700 Granite? 418 00:28:29,700 --> 00:28:31,700 Yes, this is granite. 419 00:28:31,700 --> 00:28:35,700 Granite is really hard. How did they cut so cleanly through the granite? 420 00:28:35,700 --> 00:28:38,700 It was cut by iron tools. 421 00:28:38,700 --> 00:28:40,700 Iron tools? 422 00:28:40,700 --> 00:28:42,700 Iron tools. 423 00:28:43,700 --> 00:28:52,700 The rock ship is truly bizarre, and it shows that people in this region could craft even hard stone into very angular shapes. 424 00:28:53,700 --> 00:28:55,700 This thing is strange. 425 00:28:55,700 --> 00:29:02,700 Two huge carved square indentations that go down into the structure and all sorts of other carved features. 426 00:29:02,700 --> 00:29:07,700 But it really doesn't look like anything else you see in terms of tombs in Japan. 427 00:29:07,700 --> 00:29:08,700 It's totally unique. 428 00:29:08,700 --> 00:29:16,700 But even if this does kind of look like Yanaguni, like the castle, it was made thousands of years later when iron tools had been invented. 429 00:29:16,700 --> 00:29:19,700 So how did the stone at Yanaguni get shaped? 430 00:29:23,700 --> 00:29:31,700 I take the rock sample I collected from the underwater ruins and go to meet with geologist Masahide Furukawa to learn more. 431 00:29:31,700 --> 00:29:32,700 Professor, nice to meet you. 432 00:29:32,700 --> 00:29:33,700 Nice to meet you. 433 00:29:33,700 --> 00:29:35,700 Well, I brought you a present. I brought you some rocks. 434 00:29:35,700 --> 00:29:36,700 These are from Yanaguni. 435 00:29:36,700 --> 00:29:43,700 I want to understand if you think that what's at Yanaguni could be man-made or if you're convinced that it's natural. 436 00:29:43,700 --> 00:29:46,700 I think that it's natural. 437 00:30:00,700 --> 00:30:03,700 So you can see these thin, straight cracks in it. 438 00:30:03,700 --> 00:30:07,700 And so that's why sandstone comes off in thin pieces. 439 00:30:07,700 --> 00:30:08,700 I see. 440 00:30:09,700 --> 00:30:17,700 According to the professor, the Yanaguni ruins are the result of the Pacific Ocean's powerful current relentlessly smashing into the brittle sandstone. 441 00:30:17,700 --> 00:30:21,700 To demonstrate, he's going to put my rock samples to the test. 442 00:30:27,700 --> 00:30:31,700 And I will say this, it did crack off in a perfectly straight line. 443 00:30:31,700 --> 00:30:37,700 And it did create the beginning of what looks like a step down and a flat step down. 444 00:30:37,700 --> 00:30:39,700 That's very compelling. 445 00:30:39,700 --> 00:30:47,700 My little sample is one thing, but professor Furukawa offers to let me strike an even larger slab to see if the results can be repeated. 446 00:30:47,700 --> 00:30:50,700 I don't know what's going to happen here, sir. I'm not authorized to do this. 447 00:30:51,700 --> 00:30:58,700 So, flat pieces. We have these 90 degree angles here. It looks very squared off. I think you might be onto something here. 448 00:30:58,700 --> 00:31:08,700 Thanks to the professor, I've seen that ocean currents can act as a hammer against sandstone and carve strangely angular looking structures. 449 00:31:08,700 --> 00:31:12,700 And there are other geological forces at work here too. 450 00:31:13,700 --> 00:31:19,700 To learn about them, I need to meet volcanologist Dr. Akihiko Yoku of Kyoto University. 451 00:31:19,700 --> 00:31:26,700 He's a busy man, so I'm meeting him in his office, which today happens to be a helicopter headed straight for an active volcano. 452 00:31:26,700 --> 00:31:30,700 Is this your personal helicopter? You're like a champ's bond villain. 453 00:31:31,700 --> 00:31:36,700 He explains to me the incredible volatility going on beneath the surface of Japan. 454 00:31:36,700 --> 00:31:42,700 How many active volcanoes in Japan? 118 volcanoes in Japan. 455 00:31:42,700 --> 00:31:44,700 118 that are active? Exactly. 456 00:31:44,700 --> 00:31:46,700 Actively erupting? Yes. 457 00:31:46,700 --> 00:31:48,700 And what's the difference between the two? 458 00:31:48,700 --> 00:31:50,700 The two are the same. 459 00:31:50,700 --> 00:31:52,700 The two are the same. 460 00:31:52,700 --> 00:31:54,700 The two are the same. 461 00:31:54,700 --> 00:31:56,700 The two are the same. 462 00:31:56,700 --> 00:31:58,700 118 that are active? Exactly. 463 00:31:58,700 --> 00:32:00,700 Actively erupting? Yes. 464 00:32:00,700 --> 00:32:02,700 More than 5000 per year. 465 00:32:10,700 --> 00:32:12,700 That is the aso volcano. 466 00:32:12,700 --> 00:32:14,700 That's not aso? 467 00:32:14,700 --> 00:32:16,700 That is very active. 468 00:32:16,700 --> 00:32:20,700 Great. We should definitely go right towards that. She looks like she's smoking. 469 00:32:20,700 --> 00:32:28,700 This is a very sketchy place to be hanging out. The heat and steam from the volcano create dangerous thermal conditions for the helicopter. 470 00:32:28,700 --> 00:32:35,700 It's bumpy, difficult flying conditions up here, very low ceiling and surrounded by these peaks, so we're catching a lot of wind shear. 471 00:32:35,700 --> 00:32:39,700 Oh my god, look at that. 472 00:32:40,700 --> 00:32:46,700 300 miles southwest of Osaka, I'm hovering over the very active Mount Aso volcano. 473 00:32:46,700 --> 00:32:51,700 Oh my god, look at that. 474 00:32:51,700 --> 00:32:58,700 With a caldera 12 miles in diameter and 80 miles in circumference, it is one of the largest volcanoes in the world. 475 00:32:58,700 --> 00:33:02,700 And an eruption now would certainly be my last day on the job. 476 00:33:02,700 --> 00:33:05,700 The volcano looks like it's going to be a big hit. 477 00:33:05,700 --> 00:33:10,700 It looks like the old road to the peak is totally destroyed. Here's the old gift shop. 478 00:33:10,700 --> 00:33:15,700 Volcanoes and earthquakes are a part of the fabric of Japan. 479 00:33:15,700 --> 00:33:21,700 The country sits on four tectonic plates that are constantly shifting as they're forced together. 480 00:33:21,700 --> 00:33:25,700 Some believe the impact helped create the Yanaguni ruins naturally. 481 00:33:25,700 --> 00:33:32,700 In fact, just recently, tectonic activity created a whole new island off the coast of Japan. 482 00:33:33,700 --> 00:33:36,700 How much land has it created? 483 00:33:36,700 --> 00:33:39,700 250 hectares. 484 00:33:39,700 --> 00:33:46,700 Do you think that something like the Yanaguni ruins are man-made or do you think they're natural from volcanoes and earthquakes? 485 00:33:46,700 --> 00:33:53,700 I think that entire island has been shaped by tectonic activity. I think it's entirely natural. 486 00:33:53,700 --> 00:33:57,700 Think of the ocean floor near Yanaguni as the rock in the geology lab. 487 00:33:57,700 --> 00:34:00,700 And the earthquakes and the ocean currents as the hammer. 488 00:34:00,700 --> 00:34:05,700 I can now see how so many perfect right angles might suddenly appear down there. 489 00:34:07,700 --> 00:34:10,700 When was the last time that Mount Osso erupted? 490 00:34:10,700 --> 00:34:11,700 Three days ago. 491 00:34:11,700 --> 00:34:12,700 Three days ago? 492 00:34:12,700 --> 00:34:13,700 Yeah. 493 00:34:13,700 --> 00:34:15,700 And when is it going to erupt again? Today? 494 00:34:15,700 --> 00:34:16,700 Yes. 495 00:34:16,700 --> 00:34:17,700 No. 496 00:34:17,700 --> 00:34:18,700 I'm not sure. 497 00:34:18,700 --> 00:34:20,700 No. Let's go home before it explodes. 498 00:34:20,700 --> 00:34:22,700 I want to go home. I want my mommy. 499 00:34:23,700 --> 00:34:27,700 Speaking with the scientist Sinozaka has left me conflicted. 500 00:34:27,700 --> 00:34:34,700 There is compelling visual evidence that Yanaguni is man-made, but there's also natural explanations for the formation. 501 00:34:34,700 --> 00:34:41,700 Armed with so much new information, I need to see the ruins again to make a final determination for myself. 502 00:34:44,700 --> 00:34:49,700 Flying back to the Ryukyu Islands, I return to where my investigation is. 503 00:34:49,700 --> 00:34:54,700 It's time for me to determine once and for all if the Yanaguni ruins are man-made. 504 00:34:59,700 --> 00:35:05,700 I rejoin Mr. Arutake, the discoverer of the ruins and his son Shorty, who are taking me back to the site. 505 00:35:10,700 --> 00:35:13,700 Today's dive is particularly dangerous. 506 00:35:13,700 --> 00:35:17,700 An incoming storm has made the currents even worse than usual. 507 00:35:17,700 --> 00:35:24,700 And so a really large rock stand here looks like in accents just wasting a plushness of people and kids. 508 00:35:26,700 --> 00:35:29,700 The whole base of the system is galactic. 509 00:35:29,700 --> 00:35:35,700 Not like most else is, but they absorb this water tank in several ways… 510 00:35:35,700 --> 00:35:39,700 Including just how it turns out and opens and closes. 511 00:35:39,700 --> 00:35:44,700 Let's find out how far we'll go with the development design of thevu obstacle. 512 00:35:44,700 --> 00:35:46,700 There's a vehicle, just right beside it. 513 00:35:46,700 --> 00:35:48,700 Last thing on the bottom. 514 00:35:50,140 --> 00:35:53,760 It doesn't take long to get to one of Yanaguni's perfect right angles. 515 00:35:53,760 --> 00:35:57,340 Up close, the edges show the same kinds of ridging and shearing 516 00:35:57,340 --> 00:35:59,840 that my samples did in the geology lab. 517 00:35:59,840 --> 00:36:02,840 Chalk one up for the natural phenomenon crowd. 518 00:36:05,240 --> 00:36:07,240 So, the heat is in the rock here. 519 00:36:07,240 --> 00:36:10,740 Looks like there might be some caverns here. Let's check them out. 520 00:36:11,740 --> 00:36:16,740 These cracks looked like a submerged version of what I saw at the Mount Asso volcano. 521 00:36:16,740 --> 00:36:18,740 We head inside to investigate. 522 00:36:28,740 --> 00:36:34,740 The caverns get tighter and tighter and we're on the verge of turning around. 523 00:36:41,740 --> 00:36:46,740 You see this? This is essentially a stalactite. 524 00:36:46,740 --> 00:36:49,740 Please get only form on dry land. 525 00:36:49,740 --> 00:36:53,740 Have this kid form underwater. 526 00:36:55,740 --> 00:37:00,740 Finding this stalactite is proof that this cave was once above sea level. 527 00:37:00,740 --> 00:37:03,740 It doesn't settle the question of whether Yanaguni is man-made, 528 00:37:03,740 --> 00:37:07,740 but it does mean that it's likely that it did slide into the sea. 529 00:37:07,740 --> 00:37:12,740 My last order of business is to return to the formation resembling a human face 530 00:37:12,740 --> 00:37:16,740 to see how it compares to the face I scanned on land. 531 00:37:20,740 --> 00:37:24,740 I take as many photos as I can to juxtapose the two faces 532 00:37:24,740 --> 00:37:27,740 and determine if they really are carved. 533 00:37:29,740 --> 00:37:32,740 The wall of the cavern is getting very short up here. 534 00:37:38,740 --> 00:37:41,740 With nothing but ocean on one side 535 00:37:41,740 --> 00:37:45,740 and powerful waves crashing into the rocky shores on the other, 536 00:37:45,740 --> 00:37:48,740 we need to hold on tight and ride it out. 537 00:38:00,740 --> 00:38:05,740 We swim to open water, but as it turns out, we're not alone. 538 00:38:07,740 --> 00:38:09,740 Seek, seek, seek. 539 00:38:18,740 --> 00:38:20,740 Want even more Expedition Unknown? 540 00:38:20,740 --> 00:38:25,740 You can check out my personal photos, deleted scenes, and more at TravelChannel.com. 541 00:38:31,740 --> 00:38:34,740 I'm diving off the coast of Yanaguni Island, 542 00:38:34,740 --> 00:38:37,740 known for its powerful and deadly currents. 543 00:38:46,740 --> 00:38:50,740 And I've just come face to face with something even more deadly. 544 00:38:51,740 --> 00:38:52,740 A sea snake. 545 00:38:57,740 --> 00:39:02,740 Black banded sea crates possess venom ten times more powerful than a cobra. 546 00:39:02,740 --> 00:39:07,740 The really bad news is it can swim faster and maneuver better than I ever could. 547 00:39:07,740 --> 00:39:10,740 So Shorty pulls the cord on the beacon, 548 00:39:10,740 --> 00:39:12,740 and we make our way back to the boat. 549 00:39:19,740 --> 00:39:21,740 Wanna dive? Really bad currents. 550 00:39:22,740 --> 00:39:25,740 You okay? Really intense. 551 00:39:26,740 --> 00:39:30,740 Now that I've photographed the two mysterious rock faces found on Yanaguni, 552 00:39:30,740 --> 00:39:32,740 I can compare them side by side. 553 00:39:32,740 --> 00:39:35,740 Time to see what's really going on here. 554 00:39:36,740 --> 00:39:40,740 Okay, so we've stitched together the photos that we took underwater, 555 00:39:40,740 --> 00:39:44,740 and now we're gonna compare those with the photos of the supposed face 556 00:39:44,740 --> 00:39:47,740 that we took photos of on land, high up on the cliffs. 557 00:39:48,740 --> 00:39:51,740 So here's a rendering of the underwater photos stitched together, 558 00:39:51,740 --> 00:39:54,740 and you can see it does look like a face. 559 00:39:54,740 --> 00:39:58,740 The nose isn't quite as convincing once you see the full texture mapping on it, 560 00:39:58,740 --> 00:40:02,740 but there is an outline there that certainly could be the remains of what was a nose. 561 00:40:02,740 --> 00:40:04,740 No real clear chisel marks, though. 562 00:40:04,740 --> 00:40:07,740 And when we look at the photos that we took on land, 563 00:40:07,740 --> 00:40:09,740 something really interesting emerges. 564 00:40:10,740 --> 00:40:13,740 The face, which looked really compelling up on the cliffs, 565 00:40:13,740 --> 00:40:16,740 when we see it fully mapped with 3D texture, 566 00:40:16,740 --> 00:40:19,740 it actually doesn't look as much as the face itself. 567 00:40:19,740 --> 00:40:22,740 It doesn't really have a mouth or any solid features down there. 568 00:40:22,740 --> 00:40:24,740 That rock that's supposed to be a tongue 569 00:40:24,740 --> 00:40:28,740 is sort of blocking what really is the whole missing bottom half of this. 570 00:40:29,740 --> 00:40:32,740 Now, let's take the two images and overlap them. 571 00:40:33,740 --> 00:40:35,740 When we map the two over each other, 572 00:40:35,740 --> 00:40:39,740 we see that in fact they don't really bear very much resemblance to one another. 573 00:40:39,740 --> 00:40:41,740 And I think more than anything, what we're looking at here 574 00:40:41,740 --> 00:40:44,740 might be a couple of round indentations and rocks 575 00:40:44,740 --> 00:40:47,740 that happen to take on the look of a face. 576 00:40:48,740 --> 00:40:51,740 To get to the bottom of the mystery that is the Yanaguni ruins, 577 00:40:51,740 --> 00:40:54,740 I've hopped my way across the islands of southern Japan, 578 00:40:54,740 --> 00:40:56,740 and I've had the adventure of a lifetime. 579 00:40:57,740 --> 00:41:00,740 Ultimately, everything I've learned about the ruins 580 00:41:00,740 --> 00:41:04,740 brings me full circle to the belief that they aren't man-made at all, 581 00:41:04,740 --> 00:41:07,740 but a natural formation of astounding uniqueness. 582 00:41:07,740 --> 00:41:10,740 Likely, they are a product of tectonic shifting 583 00:41:10,740 --> 00:41:13,740 and the ability to move around in a natural way. 584 00:41:13,740 --> 00:41:15,740 And the symbol found on the loose rock? 585 00:41:15,740 --> 00:41:18,740 Very compelling, but not attached to anything, 586 00:41:18,740 --> 00:41:20,740 so who knows how it got there. 587 00:41:20,740 --> 00:41:23,740 But the ship at Masuda is man-made, 588 00:41:23,740 --> 00:41:26,740 as are the strange tombs and castles across southern Japan. 589 00:41:26,740 --> 00:41:28,740 And there's so much we don't know, 590 00:41:28,740 --> 00:41:30,740 that it's not a very clear picture. 591 00:41:30,740 --> 00:41:33,740 But the ship at Masuda is man-made, 592 00:41:33,740 --> 00:41:35,740 and it's not a very clear picture. 593 00:41:35,740 --> 00:41:37,740 It's a very clear picture, 594 00:41:37,740 --> 00:41:39,740 and it's not a very clear picture. 595 00:41:39,740 --> 00:41:41,740 And I think that's the reason why 596 00:41:41,740 --> 00:41:45,740 and there's so much we don't know about these later cultures. 597 00:41:46,740 --> 00:41:50,740 As for Yanaguni, half of it is still buried in sand. 598 00:41:50,740 --> 00:41:53,740 To the faithful, I say keep looking. 599 00:41:53,740 --> 00:41:55,740 I don't think it's the Japanese Atlantis, 600 00:41:56,740 --> 00:41:59,740 but that doesn't make it any less of a wonder.