I was reading about this new research and it really made me think. So, some scientists are saying that the Gunung Padang pyramid in Indonesia might be way older than Egypt’s Djoser Step pyramid. Like, they think it was built around 25,000 BC. That’s super old, right? The Djoser pyramid in Egypt is about 2,630 BC, and it’s been in the Guinness World Records as the oldest one. But now, this new claim is making people question that.
Who Led this Research about Oldest Pyramid?
The research was led by Danny Hilman Natawidjaja from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences. In their paper, they said that the inside of the Gunung Padang pyramid is made of this special kind of lava rock. They believe that the oldest part of the pyramid was actually a natural lava hill before people started shaping it and building around it.
Interesting facts about Gunung Padang pyramid
- One of the Oldest Megalithic Sites
- Mysterious Construction
- Multi-Layered Structure
- Advanced Masonry Skills
- Possible Natural Formation
- Controversial Dating
- Cultural Significance
- Archaeological Prospection
- Controversial Research
- Tourist Attraction
This is kinda crazy because it means people might have been building stuff way before we thought they could. Usually, we think advanced building skills only came about when agriculture started, like 11,000 years ago. But this research suggests people were doing this kind of stuff way earlier. It’s a big deal!
But not everyone agrees with this. A UK archaeologist named Flint Dibble, from Cardiff University, said that there’s no solid proof that humans actually built the layers of this pyramid. He thinks the materials could have just rolled down a hill naturally. Another archaeologist, Bill Farley from Southern Connecticut State University, said that even though the soil samples from Gunung Padang are old, they don’t show signs of human activity, like charcoal or bones.
Danny Hilman Natawidjaja, the guy who led the research, said they’re open to other researchers coming to Indonesia to check it out. He wants more people to study the site and see what they find.
This whole thing is really interesting, but it looks like it’s still up for debate. I’m curious to see what other scientists will say about it.