It’s steeling the limelight.
A strange and gigantic steel monolith was recently spotted on a hill in Wales — one of several mysterious Toblerone-like structures that have popped up around the globe in recent years.
They have evoked online conspiracy theories of aliens and extraterrestrial beings.
The latest futuristic-looking installation, found in Wales’ Hay-on-Wye region, was noticed over the weekend by area runner Richard Haynes. He didn’t quite know what to make of the unusual sighting.
“I thought it looked a bit bizarre and might be a scientific media research thing collecting rainwater,” he told Wales Online on Monday.
“But then realized it was way too tall and strange for that. Then I went up to it and it was about 10-foot-tall at least and triangular, definitely stainless steel,” Haynes continued. “It was hollow and I imagine pretty light. Light enough for two people to carry it up and plant it in the ground.”
Although the Welsh obelisk’s origin is unclear, two similar structures found in Utah and California in 2020 were the works of an artist group based in New Mexico called The Most Famous Artist.
After speculation and E.T.-like tall tales swirled, the group owned up to the art installations.
Another monolith, that perplexingly appeared in Turkey in 2021, was a government stunt launched ahead of a space program announcement.
Others were seen in Romania and Ukraine late in 2020.
Not far from Wales, one appeared on the Isle of Wight and another in a famous stone circle called the Merry Maidens in Cornwall, England.
Another one, discovered in Somerset, England, even featured the words “not Banksy,” a reference to the artist of mystery who may be forced to reveal his identity soon.
