Exploring Gunung Padang: Could This Be the Oldest Pyramid Indonesia?
A study published in the journal Archaeological Prospection has stirred debate in archaeological circles, with claims that Gunung Padang in Cianjur, West Java, Indonesia, could be the oldest man-made pyramid in the world. The research, led by geologist Danny Hilman Natawidjaja and his team, suggests that parts of the site may date back as far as 25,000 years.
The findings challenge long-held beliefs about early human civilisations and pyramid construction, traditionally thought to have begun much later.
“Organic soil dating of the structure reveals multiple stages of construction dating back thousands of years BC, with the earliest phase dating to the Palaeolithic era,” the team reported.
Carbon dating of soil samples from beneath the structure suggested ages as old as 27,000 years, predating the Egyptian pyramids by tens of thousands of years.
Oldest Pyramid in The World? A Site Built in Phases
Dr Ali Akbar, an archaeologist from the University of Indonesia, supports the theory of ancient construction layers at Gunung Padang. “This cultural layer is older than the Egyptian pyramids, which were built around 2,500 BC,” he said in a statement on 9 January 2025, as reported by inilah.com.
His excavation, which reached depths of four metres, uncovered stone arrangements believed to date back to 5,900 BC. “There are at least two phases of construction. The first phase occurred around 5,900 BC, and the second phase around 500 BC,” he added.
Unlike the flat-ground foundations used for Egypt’s pyramids, Gunung Padang’s builders utilised a natural hill, forming terraces with large stones believed to have been transported from other locations.
The site resembles a stepped pyramid, though not identical in shape or design to its counterparts in Egypt or Mesoamerica.
Ancient Pyramid Indonesia: Skepticism from the Global Scientific Community
Despite the enthusiasm, not all experts are convinced. Flint Dibble, an archaeologist from Cardiff University, acknowledged that the research used valid data but criticised its conclusions.
He argued that soil samples alone are insufficient to confirm a man-made structure of such antiquity, especially without clearer evidence of construction techniques.
Further controversy surrounds the interpretation of the site’s structure. Dr Lutfi Yondri, a West Java-based archaeologist, asserts that Gunung Padang is not a pyramid in the traditional sense. “The Gunung Padang site is a stepped pundhen.
The carbon dating is between 117 BC–45 BC,” he told Detiknews in February 2023.
In his book, The Mount Padang Site: Culture, People, and Environment, Dr Yondri explains that the structure is divided into three parts:
- The Well Area: Constructed from andesite columns around a spring.
- The Main Staircase: Linking the well to the first terrace.
- Terraces: Five-stepped platforms oriented north to south.
Plans for Continued Research
The Indonesian Ministry of Culture has announced plans to resume research on the Gunung Padang site, which had been halted since 2014 due to differing academic opinions.
“Yes, we will also continue the research and study of Gunung Padang because it was stopped for a long time. There are different views among archaeologists,” said Minister of Culture Fadli Zon, as quoted by Kumparan on 8 January 2025.
Fadli aims to foster dialogue between differing archaeological schools of thought. “We need to bring together in discussion, groups which have schools of thought in our archaeology,” he added.
The Pyramid Indonesia Debate: Where Does Gunung Padang Stand?
Globally, the Guinness World Records recognises Egypt’s Step Pyramid of Djoser, built around 2630 BC, as the oldest pyramid. This is followed by the pyramids of Caral in Peru (2700–2600 BC) and the Meidum Pyramid in Egypt (c. 2600 BC).
Whether or not Gunung Padang truly predates these structures, it remains a significant site worthy of further study. The discussion it has sparked may lead to new insights into ancient Indonesian civilisation and its place in world history.
