Statsbiologer fra Utah opdagede monolitten i november 2020 under en helikopterundersøgelse af tykhornsfårbestanden. Blot dage efter dens opdagelse fandt offentligheden vej frem til monolitten ved at bruge [[GPS]]-kortlægningssoftware og begav sig ud til dens afsides beliggenhed. Efter en intens mediedækning blev den fjernet den 27. november 2020 af fire beboere i byen [[Moab (Utah)|Moab]], og efter næsten en måned i deres besiddelse blev monolitten overdraget til Bureau of Land Management.<ref name=":1">Kovaleski, Serge F.; Solomon, Deborah; Rosenberg, Zoe (December 1, 2020). "[https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/01/arts/design/utah-monolith-removed-instagram.html Earthlings, It Seems, Not Aliens, Removed the Utah Monolith - A photographer said four men dismantled the mysterious shiny object that has captivated the country. - Updated 12/02/2020]". ''The New York Times''. Archived from the original on December 16, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2020.</ref><ref>"[https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/artist-or-aliens-mystery-surrounds-utah-monolith-s-appearance-disappearance-n1249424 Artist or aliens? Mystery surrounds Utah monolith's appearance and disappearance]". NBC News. 2020-11-30. Archived from the original on 2020-12-16. Retrieved 2020-12-01.</ref><ref name=":2">Brown, Meaghen (2020-12-23). "[https://www.outsideonline.com/2420014/utah-monolith-returned-blm The Saga of the Monolith Isn't Over Yet]". ''Outside Online''. Retrieved 2020-12-26.</ref>
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