Archaeologists debate origins of ancient structure in Indonesia

A recent study conducted at Gunung Padang in Indonesia has ignited a debate among archaeologists, challenging the claim that a 25,000-year-old ‘pyramid’ with purported hidden chambers was constructed by humans.

The study, which discovered evidence of human activity dating back thousands of years BCE, suggested multiple construction stages at the site, pushing its origins back further than previously known pyramids. The authors contended that Gunung Padang was not a natural hill but a pyramid-like construction.

However, opposing archaeologists are now disputing these claims, asserting that the ‘pyramid’ may not have been built by humans at all but rather formed naturally.

Flint Dibble, an archaeologist at Cardiff University in Wales, expressed skepticism, stating that unless extraordinary evidence surfaces, it is more plausible that the structure formed through natural processes. Dibble pointed out that the absence of typical signs of human activity, such as charcoal or bone fragments, raises doubts about human involvement.

Archeologist Lutfi Yondri, from BRIN in Bandung, Indonesia, corroborated this view, indicating that his research in the area revealed human habitation between 12,000 and 6,000 years ago but lacked evidence of the “remarkable masonry capabilities” needed to construct the ‘pyramid.’

While the study’s authors defended their conclusions, critics argue that the structure’s formation aligns more with natural geological processes than human construction. This debate echoes previous instances where natural formations were mistakenly attributed to human intervention.

As the archaeological community continues to scrutinize the evidence, the mystery of Gunung Padang’s origins deepens, leaving researchers and enthusiasts alike captivated by the enigma of this ancient Indonesian structure.