Some time ago, archeologists have unearthed the remains of an ancient stone monument in Israel, not very far from the Sea of Galilee. The monument sits at just 8 miles (13 kilometers) northwest of this freshwater lake. Interestingly enough, the structure was first believed to have been part of a wall.

According to Live Science, archeologists believe that the stone structure was built somewhere between 3050 BC and 2650 BC. The conclusion is based on the recovered fragments of pottery found at the dig site. Aside from the pottery, no other artifacts or remains of buildings have been found in its vicinity, and the monument appears to be free standing.

The recently discovered stone monument in Israel seems to have been around for about 5,000 years now. This means that the structure might be just a wee older than the world-famous pyramids of Egypt.

Researcher Ido Wachtel, along with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, says that the stone monument is shaped like a crescent. The base measures 492 feet (150 meters) in length and 66 feet (20 meters) wide. The wall’s current height is one of 23 feet (7 meters), and there’s no doubt that archaeologists are quite fascinated and willing to learn more about it.

Since the monument is crescent shaped, Ido Wachtel and colleagues believe that it was built as a means to honor and worship an ancient Mesopotamian lunar god named Sin. The theory is supported by the fact that the remains of a long-lost town dubbed Bet Yerah, which translates as “house of the moon god,” sit not very far from this structure.

Bet Yerah was a large fortified city built during the beginning of the third millennium BC. Its inhabitants traded with the early kings of Egypt, as seen from several artifacts, including a jug with a hieroglyphic inscription. The town spans an area of over 50 acres—one of the largest in the Levant.