The Oldest Pyramid in the World: Gunung Padang’s Ancient Secrets
What you see in this photo is a reconstruction of the world’s oldest pyramid, located in Gunung Padang, Indonesia. Currently, the pyramid is covered with trees, vegetation, and soil, making it difficult to see with the naked eye. However, if it were completely exposed, it would resemble the picture. Recent research, depicted in the image below, suggests the presence of three vacant rooms beneath the pyramid, although no one has successfully accessed them yet.
According to an article published on National Geographic’s website on December 19, 2018, Gunung Padang is more than just a hill; it is a complex of ancient structures with deep foundations. By utilizing various research techniques such as georadar (GPR), seismic tomography, and archaeological excavations, Professor Danny Hilman Natawidjaj’s research team has concluded that Gunung Padang is not entirely man-made but was constructed during the later prehistoric periods. The upper part consists of stone columns, walls, roads, and open spaces. However, a second layer lies approximately 1-3 meters below the surface. Previously mistaken for natural rock formations, this layer is actually composed of columnar basalt blocks arranged in a matrix structure. Below the second layer, there is a third layer comprised of clustered rocks and a large basement extending to a depth of 15 meters. Lastly, a fourth layer is composed of basaltic rock that exhibits signs of human modification or sculpture.
Geologist Danny Hilman Natawidjaj from the Indonesian Geological Research Center conducted C14 radiocarbon tests on various areas of the site, yielding surprising results. The carbon dating indicates that the surface ruins date back approximately 3,000 to 3,500 years ago, placing them around 1,000 BCE, before the rise of the Roman Empire. However, the researchers discovered a second layer beneath the surface, approximately 3 meters deep, consisting of columnar basalt blocks. Through C14 radiocarbon dating, Indonesian researchers determined that this second layer was constructed between 7,500 and 8,300 years ago, placing it around 6,000 BCE, during the emergence of the first Sumerians.
Additionally, the researchers propose the existence of a third layer, stretching 15 meters below the surface. C14 radiocarbon dating suggests that this layer is approximately 9,000 years old, placing it around 7,000 BCE. According to traditional archaeology, this period was characterized by the absence of writing, cities, and the existence of humanity in the Stone Age. However, beneath this layer, there is a fourth layer whose remnants, based on C14 radiocarbon readings, could potentially be dated as far back as 28,000 years ago.
Scientific evidence supports the fact that before the last ice age, when sea levels rose by 120 meters, the region that is now Indonesia was part of a larger subcontinent known as “Sundaland.” Sundaland is currently submerged underwater, and the thawing process began approximately 14,000 years ago. Consequently, the Pyramid of Gunung Padang could be up to 28,000 years old. This implies that the Sundaland civilization had already existed for at least 14,000 years before being submerged by rising waters. As a result, there may be numerous undiscovered sites similar to Gunung Padang lying underwater in Indonesia, waiting to be explored.
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