Richat Structure (Atlantis fringe theory)

The Richat Structure in Mauritania has been proposed in scientifically unproved fringe theories as a site of the mythical city of Atlantis. It lies near Ouadane, which was a Portuguese trading post and learning center established in 1487. The structure's dimensions are claimed to be similar to those described by Plato. This structure is generally considered to be a deeply eroded domal structure that overlies a still-buried alkaline igneous intrusion.
After the discovery of Acheulean sites within the outer part of the Richat structure by Theodore Monod in 1974, the regional mapping of prehistoric artifacts within the area of the Richat structure was conducted over time. This mapping found prehistoric artifacts, Paleolithic and Neolithic stone tools, to be generally absent in its innermost depressions. In addition, neither recognizable midden deposits nor manmade structures were found and reported from the Richat structure. This is interpreted as indicating that area of the Richat structure was used only for short-term hunting and stone tool manufacturing during prehistoric times.
The Richat-Structure-as-Atlantis fringe theory gained notability in September 2018 when the YouTube Channel Bright Insight published a video proposing it; the fringe theory is significant at least because of the reach it has obtained: within its first few days over half a million views and as of April 2019 the video had over 3.7 million views and the story had been picked up in major tabloid news publications such as Business Insider Australia, Sputnik News, and the tabloids The Daily Express, The Daily Mirror and The Daily Star.

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