Archaeologists discuss whether the oldest pyramid in the world is human work

The Guinness World Record officially gives the title of the world’s oldest pyramid to the stepped construction of Djoser, erected in Egypt around 2630 BC.

However, an article published in October raises a fascinating new theory: a layer of the Gunung Padang pyramid in Indonesia would have been built approximately 25,000 years ago. This surprising find has generated controversy, since it is doubted whether this structure was really created by human hands.

In a study led by Danny Hilman Natawidjaja, from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, published in the journal Archaeological Prospectionrevealing findings about the Gunung Padang pyramid are presented: researchers claim that the core of this structure is composed of andesite lava, sculpted with meticulous precision. The oldest component of the pyramid, according to academics, would have begun as a natural lava hill, which was later worked and transformed into an architectural construction.

The research highlights the sophisticated masonry techniques dating back to the last glacial period, challenging conventional beliefs about the development of human civilization. Rather than emerging with the development of agriculture approximately 11,000 years ago, scientists suggest, based on these findings, that advanced construction techniques may have existed much earlier than previously believed.

Evidence from Gunung Padang and other sites, such as Göbekli Tepe in Türkiye, suggests that advanced building practices already existed, even when agriculture perhaps had not yet been developed.they claim.

Some scholars also maintain that the builders must have possessed notable skills in masonry. However, a UK archaeologist has questioned this approach and expressed surprise that the paper was published as is.

Flint Dibble, from Cardiff University, told the magazine Nature that there is no clear evidence that the buried layers were built by humans. Material rolling down a hill orients itselfhe explained. He added that there are no signs of work or any human intervention.

Bill Farley, an archaeologist at Southern Connecticut State University, said that although the 27,000-year-old soil samples from Gunung Padang have been accurately dated, they show no traces of human activity, such as charcoal or bone fragments.

In response to the criticism, Hilman Natawidjaja expressed his openness to international scrutiny and expressed: We are willing to welcome researchers from any part of the world to study Gunung Padang. His statement highlights confidence in the investigation and his willingness to subject the site to additional analysis.

On the other hand, the co-editor of Archaeological Prospection confirmed that an investigation into the article has already been launched.