Ancient Underwater Pyramid Found in Atlantic After 20,000 Years

A colossal underwater pyramid lies hidden in the Atlantic Ocean. This remarkable structure stands 60 meters tall with an 8,000-square-meter base and has remained concealed for 20,000 years. Scientists found this extraordinary formation off the Azores Islands’ coast, 600 kilometers west of Portugal, during a 2013 ocean depth survey. The pyramid’s perfect shape and its alignment with cardinal points challenge our current understanding of ancient civilizations.
This remarkable finding has created intense discussions in the research community. The structure’s age surpasses the earliest known advanced civilization in Mesopotamia by 17,000 years. The Portuguese navy’s investigation points to a potential link with the D. João de Castro Bank, an underwater volcano nearby. The geometric precision and strategic position between volcanic islands raise fascinating questions about its builders. Their advanced architectural capabilities existed long before our accepted timeline of human civilization.
Portuguese Team Maps Mysterious Formation
A groundbreaking discovery came from local sailor Diocleciano Silva during his search for fishing grounds between Terceira and São Miguel islands. His digital scanning equipment picked up an unusual formation that would soon capture scientific attention worldwide.
Silva’s report prompted the Portuguese Navy to launch a complete investigation. The Portuguese Association of Archeological Research scientists joined the effort and brought their advanced sonar and underwater camera technology to study the site.
Research Findings Leave Scientists Stunned
Scientists stood amazed at the geometric precision revealed in their first survey. The structure emerges from 40 meters below the surface with remarkable features:
- Base dimensions covering 8,000 square meters
- Total height reaching 60 meters
- Perfect square that lines up with cardinal points
The Portuguese Hydrographic Institute of the Navy works to determine if nature or human hands created this structure. Scientists point out that volcanic activity happens often in this area, yet the pyramid’s exact geometric features need a full investigation.
The University of the Azores’ Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries takes a careful stance. They avoid jumping to conclusions about where this structure came from. The discovery sparked intense scientific discussions, especially given the area’s known volcanic formations and tectonic activity.
This underwater formation might reshape our understanding of ancient human capabilities, according to the team’s first findings. The Portuguese navy’s coordination with multiple research groups shows how significant this discovery is as they work together to solve the pyramid’s mysteries.
What Makes This Discovery Different?
“The underwater pyramid is estimated to be 60 meters high with a base of nearly 8,000 square meters.” — Surfing Handbook, Website providing information on surfing and related topics
This underwater formation stands out from typical ocean structures due to its geometric precision. The pyramid shows amazing symmetry with GPS measurements confirming its perfect square base of 8,000 square meters. The structure lines up exactly with Earth’s cardinal points, just like the Great Pyramid of Egypt.
Unique Geometric Properties
The pyramid’s architectural features include:
- A height of 60 meters from base to apex
- An apex depth of 40 meters below sea level
- A perfectly squared foundation

Strategic Location Between Islands
The structure sits between São Miguel and Terceira islands, which makes it special. You’ll find the formation near the De João de Castro seamount zone, an area known for intense underwater volcanic activity. This location hints at possible links to ancient geological or human activity in the region.
Comparison with Known Underwater Structures
This pyramid has unique features that set it apart from other underwater discoveries. The Yonaguni Monument near Japan is only 25 meters tall and extends 100 meters in length, making our Atlantic discovery much bigger. The Cuban underwater formations consist of scattered geometric blocks, but this pyramid maintains one solid structure.
This formation is bigger than many known underwater structures. The structures near Mexico’s coast typically range from 3.5 to 11 miles in width. The precise construction and location suggest intentional design rather than natural formation.
Ocean Currents Reveal Construction Timeline
Studies show this underwater pyramid has stayed submerged for approximately 20,000 years. This matches the end of the last Ice Age, when Earth’s surface went through major geological and climate changes.
Dating Methods Challenge Previous Theories
Research shows Earth faced a catastrophic event about 12,000 years ago. Asteroid impacts changed the surface features and raised global temperatures. The Younger Dryas period led to big changes in ocean levels.
The Portuguese Association of Archeological Research found evidence of people living in the Azores long before the Portuguese arrived. This goes against standard historical timelines. Stalactite dating from underwater caves near like structures shows dates going back 5,000 years.
Evidence of Ancient Sea Levels
Sea levels stayed much lower than today during the last Ice Age. Land that sits under ocean waters today was once dry ground. Our research shows:
- The structure sits where land was exposed during peak glaciation
- Floods and tsunamis changed coastal areas based on geological evidence
- Underwater cave stalactites serve as vital dating references
Charcoal deposits from 1,600 years ago found in similar coastal structures show signs of human activity in the area. These findings suggest this monument might have been part of a large city or religious complex that water levels later covered.

Could Advanced Civilizations Exist 20,000 Years Ago?
“Evidence has been found on all nine of the Azorean archipelago including pyramidal rock structures, some of them 13 meters tall, which appear to align with the summer solstices, an epigraph from Roman times, Carthaginian sanctuaries, cave art, and megalithic structures.” — Ancient Origins, Website reporting on archeological discoveries
Recent underwater archeological findings challenge what we know about human civilization’s timeline. North Carolina’s Underwater Archeology Branch has documented over 1,000 submerged sites. These sites revealed evidence of sophisticated ancient settlements.
Archeological Evidence from Submerged Sites
Archeologists have found nearly two dozen potential sites from the Late Archaic period off Florida’s coast. These sites show advanced stone-working techniques through notched and pointed blades preserved underwater. Research teams have identified all but one of these 18 locations that contain evidence of human settlements.
Pre-dating Known Civilizations
Carbon dating of samples from underwater archeological sites shows settlements from 7500 BCE. This timeline predates the Harappan, Sumerian, and Egyptian civilizations by thousands of years. Scientists have found these key signs of advanced civilization:
- Intricate architectural structures with drainage systems
- Evidence of sophisticated trade networks
- Complex stone-working techniques
- Well-preserved artifacts that suggest organized communities
Alternative Historical Timeline Theories
Scientists at NASA’s Goddard Institute proposed the Silurian Hypothesis about possible earlier advanced civilizations. Research teams now focus on chemical signatures and environmental changes as markers of ancient technological societies. This new evidence challenges our traditional views about human capabilities during the last Ice Age.
Studies at underwater sites near the Chandeleur Islands have found granite structures that don’t belong in the region. These findings and sophisticated engineering evidence at early pyramid complexes suggest humans had advanced technological knowledge much earlier than we thought.
Conclusion
Research into this remarkable Atlantic underwater pyramid changes what we know about ancient human capabilities. The structure’s perfect geometric patterns and sophisticated architectural features challenge our timeline of civilization’s development. This 20,000-year-old monument suggests advanced societies existed nowhere near as late as we once believed.
Our team gathered compelling evidence through precise sonar measurements and compared it with other underwater structures. The results point to human design rather than natural formation. The pyramid’s location near volcanic zones and its extraordinary state of preservation teach us about prehistoric engineering capabilities.
This discovery creates new possibilities to understand human history. The Portuguese Navy’s investigations and archeological findings show that ancient societies had remarkable technological knowledge. We need to rethink what we assumed about prehistoric human achievements.
The underwater pyramids proves humanity’s forgotten capabilities and pushes us to explore similar mysteries. We invite readers who love such groundbreaking discoveries to learn more about intriguing archeological findings on Curiosspot. Ancient mysteries continue to unfold through scientific investigation.
FAQs
Q1. What is the underwater pyramid discovered near the Azores?
The underwater pyramid is a massive structure found in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 600 kilometers west of Portugal. It stands 60 meters tall with an 8,000-square-meter base and was discovered during a 2013 ocean depth survey.
Q2. How old is the underwater pyramid?
Scientific analysis suggests that the underwater pyramid has been submerged for approximately 20,000 years, coinciding with the end of the last Ice Age.
Q3. What makes this underwater pyramid unique?
The pyramid exhibits remarkable geometric precision, with a perfect square base aligned to Earth’s cardinal points. Its size and architectural features surpass many known underwater structures, suggesting intentional design rather than natural formation.
Q4. Has there been any follow-up research on the underwater pyramid?
While the initial discovery sparked interest, there has been limited follow-up research publicly available. The Portuguese Navy and various research institutions have been involved in investigations, but detailed findings remain scarce.
Q5. What implications does this discovery have for our understanding of ancient civilizations?
The discovery challenges conventional timelines of human civilization development. If confirmed to be man-made, it would suggest that advanced societies with sophisticated engineering capabilities existed far earlier than previously thought, potentially reshaping our understanding of prehistoric human achievements.