A gigantic underground pyramid hidden beneath an Indonesian hillside is far older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids of Giza, and could soon rival the oldest megalithic structures built by humans. unknown.
remember the name Gunung Padang.
The exceptional hillsides lined with ancient stone structures in West Java are sacred to the locals, who refer to these types of structures as “.Punden Berndak” means stepped pyramid and refers to the terrace leading to the top.
Archaeologists have barely scratched the surface of the site, but it is already taking shape.An amazing testament.” To human ingenuity.
Gunung Padang is potentially the world’s oldest pyramid-shaped structure, built atop an extinct volcano before agriculture and civilization as we know it began.
According to new data from Indonesian scientists, it is very likely that a large open chamber filled with an unknown substance is hidden inside.
Extensive analysis of Gunung Padang, which means “Mountain of Enlightenment” in the local language, strongly suggests the existence of an ancient civilization. ”meticulously carved“A long time ago, a natural mound of lava formed the center of a pyramid-like structure.
Initial radiocarbon dating of the site indicates that early construction can be traced back to some point during the last ice age, more than 16,000 years ago and possibly 27,000 years ago.
Considering it in perspective, gobekli tepeis a huge stone complex located in modern-day Turkey. Currently under consideration It is believed to be the world’s oldest known megalith. It dates back 11,000 years.
The current findings on Gunung Padang are the result of years of careful analysis.
From 2011 to 2015, a team of archaeologists, geologists, and geophysicists led by geologist Danny Hillman Natawidjaja from Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency conducted a variety of projects including core drilling, ground-penetrating radar, and subsurface imaging. The exploration was carried out using technology. cultural heritage.
Natawidjaja and his colleagues found that, like many megaliths of the past, Gunung Padang was built in complex and sophisticated stages, with its deepest point being 30 meters deep.
The core of the structure was probably built between 25,000 and 14,000 BC, but was abandoned for several thousand years.
Construction began again around 7900-6100 BC, expanding the central mound of the pyramid with various rock pillars and gravelly soils, and further construction work took place between 6000-5500 BC. Interestingly, at this point it appears that the builders deliberately filled in or built over the older portion of the site.
The last architects of the pyramid arrived between 2000 BC and 1100 BC and added the topsoil and stone terraces that are characteristic of Punden Berndak. This is the part that is mostly seen today.
“The builders of Units 3 and 2 at Gunung Padang must have had amazing stone-laying abilities that were at odds with traditional hunter-gatherer culture.” write A team of researchers.
“Given the long and continuous occupation of Gunung Padang, it is tempting to speculate that the site may have played an important role, attracting ancient peoples to repeatedly occupy and alter it. It’s reasonable.”
Further excavations are needed to understand who these prehistoric people were and why they built what they did.
When researchers probed the interior of the hillside using seismic waves, they found evidence of hidden cavities and chambers up to 15 meters long and with ceilings up to 10 meters high.
The team is now looking to explore these areas further. If they come across a room, they plan to drop the camera into the darkness to see what lurks below.
“This study exemplifies how a comprehensive approach that integrates archaeological, geological, and geophysical methods can uncover vast hidden ancient structures.” says the team. conclusion.
This probably won’t be the last you hear about Gunung Padang.
This study archaeological exploration.
