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A massive stone structure discovered beneath the Sea of Galilee is challenging archaeologists, with its purpose and age still unknown. Weighing an estimated 60,000 tons, the formation stands out as one of the largest underwater features of its kind in the region.
The structure was first detected during a 2003 sonar survey in the southwest part of the lake. Its cone-like shape and scale quickly drew attention, prompting further investigation by divers. Its proximity to known ancient sites has led scientists to explore possible links with early urban societies in the area.
A Massive Cairn Made of Unworked Stone
The structure rises nearly 10 meters (32 feet) high and spans approximately 70 meters (230 feet) in diameter. According to a press release published by the International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, it is composed of unhewn basalt cobbles and boulders, some measuring up to 1 meterin length. Divers reported no evidence of cutting or shaping. The stones appear randomly arranged, without walls or clear architectural patterns.
“The boulders have natural faces with no signs of cutting or chiselling. Similarly, we did not find any sign of arrangement or walls that delineate this structure.”
The cone-shaped monument beneath the Sea of Galilee. Credit: Shmuel Marco
Researchers describe the structure as a cairn, a type of man-made pile of stones known from other regions and sometimes associated with burial practices, though no direct evidence confirms such a use here.
Evidence Suggests a Human-Made Origin
The structure does not resemble any natural geological formation. As explained by the research team, its shape and composition point clearly to human construction.
A sonar survey of part of the sea in the summer of 2003 first detected the circular structure. Credit: Shmuel Marco
They propose that it was built on dry land and later submerged as the Sea of Galilee expanded. This interpretation is consistent with known environmental changes affecting the region over thousands of years. The scale of the structure implies a high level of organization. In the researchers’ view:
“This is such a huge structure that it truly is something unusual. It could have been a big ceremonial structure, or a ramp. There could have once been statues on top of people in certain rituals. I mean, I’m really going wild here. The truth is we don’t know how it was constructed, what its exact age is, how it was used, or how long ago it was used. We have several speculations, but we don’t know much except that it’s there and it’s huge.”
A Lost Bronze Age Link
Archaeologist Yitzhak Paz, from the Israel Antiquities Authority and Ben-Gurion University, saidthat the stone structure may date to the third millennium B.C.. He noted that similar megalithic phenomena have been identified in nearby areas.
One example cited in the study is Khirbet Beteiha, located about 30 kilometers to the northeast, which features concentric stone circles. These parallels suggest the underwater structure could belong to the same cultural context.
If this dating is confirmed, the structure would have been located near Bet Yerah (or Khirbet Kerak), a major settlement of the time. Archaeologist Raphael Greenberg noted that the city covered 30 hectares and had up to 5,000 inhabitants, with fortified defenses and organized urban planning.
No underwater excavation has yet been carried out, leaving the structure’s function and exact age uncertain.
“If the site was inland, it would be much easier to investigate. By now we would have excavated, but because it’s submerged we haven’t yet been able to. It is a much harder process, both physically and financially. It is very expensive to raise support for such an enterprise,” noted Yitzhak Paz.
