By Sama Marwan,
However, a study published last year contradicts this claim, and what might shock you is that the site has long remained a mystery to scientists and researchers.
Recent research suggests that the rock site of Gunung Padang in West Java, Indonesia, may not be a natural formation but rather the world’s oldest pyramid, dating back as far as 25,000 years, according to Times of India.
Located in Cianjur, West Java, Gunung Padang has been regarded as a sacred site by locals for centuries. Its terraces are covered with massive rock formations associated with rituals and ceremonies.
For decades, the site was thought to be a natural hill with large stone remains on top. However, between 2011 and 2014, a group of Indonesian researchers, led by geologist Danny Hilman Natawidjaja from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences’ Geotechnology Center, began investigating whether Gunung Padang might actually be a multi-layered, man-made pyramid.
Using ground-penetrating radar (GPR), electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), seismic tomography (ST), and core drilling, they made some extraordinary discoveries. Their evidence suggested that Gunung Padang consists of multiple layers of construction, developed over tens of thousands of years.
What Was Discovered?
Scientists identified four phases of construction at Gunung Padang:
- The first phase (25,000 – 14,000 years ago)
- The base is a volcanic hill that was shaped and modified by humans.
- The second phase (7900 – 6100 BCE)
- Vertically placed stones, arranged like bricks, were added, indicating the earliest known organized construction.
- The third phase (6000 – 5500 BCE)
- Further architectural modifications refined the structure.
- The fourth phase (2000 – 1100 BCE)
- The final advanced construction, which shaped the site into what we see today.
If these dating estimates are accurate, Gunung Padang would be over 20,000 years older than the Egyptian pyramids.
A Site Full of Secrets
One of the most intriguing discoveries was the presence of hidden cavities or chambers inside the site. These chambers have not yet been explored, but they suggest a complex interior design. Scientists believe they could contain artifacts, tombs, or religious relics, providing crucial insights into the site’s builders and their purpose.
Another shocking finding is that Gunung Padang was deliberately buried multiple times over the centuries. This could indicate an attempt to hide and protect the structure or a shift in its religious and cultural significance over different periods.
If Gunung Padang truly dates back 25,000 years, it would challenge the long-standing theory that advanced building techniques only developed after the rise of agriculture (~11,000 BCE). The idea that a highly advanced society capable of large-scale engineering existed so early is highly controversial and contradicts traditional archaeological assumptions.
What Do Critics Say?
Skeptics argue that early humans at that time were mainly hunter-gatherers with limited skills. They question how such organized stonework, multi-layered architecture, and internal chambers could exist at Gunung Padang. Who built it? And how sophisticated were their methods?
In 2023, the journal Archaeological Prospection published a paper analyzing the site. Independent experts criticized the methodology and conclusions, arguing that the research lacked scientific verification and that further peer-reviewed studies are necessary.
The Debate Continues…
The mystery of Gunung Padang remains unsolved. Is it really the world’s oldest pyramid, or just a natural formation misunderstood by researchers? Until more scientific investigations are conducted, the truth behind this enigmatic site remains buried in time.
