A mysterious piece of metal, embedded into rock was discovered in the remote parts of Utah on Wednesday, fueling speculation on what the object was or how it got there, according to reports.
The structure, which is estimated at between 10 feet and 12 feet high, was found by state wildlife employees counting sheep from a helicopter.
The area in which the massive structure was found is so remote, that wildlife employees will not release the location, as people attempting to visit could get stranded, lost and require rescue.
Utah’s highway patrol shared a picture of the finding on Instagram, along with the caption: “Counting big horn sheep with DWR this week. During the counts we came across this, in the middle of nowhere, buried deep in the rock. Inquiring minds want to know, what the heck is it? Anyone?”
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Hutchings was flying for the Utah department of public safety, which was assiting wildlife resource officers in the count in the southeastern edge of the state.
“We were kind of joking around that if one of us suddenly disappears, then the rest of us make a run for it,” he told the station.
“I’m assuming it’s some new wave artist or something or, you know, somebody that was a big 2001: A Space Odyssey fan,” Hutchings said.
Authorities said the mysterious object was installed in the ground in a remote area of red rock with “no obvious indication” of who might have put it there, according to a press release from the Utah Department of Public Safety.
Users on social media were quick to speculate what the object was.
“It’s the on-off button for the planet,” one user wrote.
“I love this. I imagine it’s an art piece, but what if it isn’t…” another replied.
The Bureau of Land Management is determining whether they need to investigate further, according to the release.