Gunung Padang: Indonesian Pyramid Could Rewrite History, Claim Researchers

Researchers in Indonesia claim the Gunung Padang pyramid may predate the Egyptian pyramids by tens of thousands of years. A paper published in *Archaeological Prospection* suggests a layer of the pyramid was constructed as far back as 25,000 BC. This challenges the conventional belief that advanced construction techniques emerged with agriculture around 11,000 years ago. Danny Hilman Natawidjaja of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences led the research. The study suggests the pyramid's core consists of sculpted andesite lava. According to the paper, the structure likely originated as a natural lava hill before being sculpted. The academics claim the builders possessed remarkable masonry capabilities. However, some archaeologists are skeptical. Flint Dibble from Cardiff University argues there's no clear evidence the buried layers were built by humans. He notes the lack of evidence of human activity, such as charcoal or bone fragments, in the dated soil samples. Natawidjaja welcomes further research on Gunung Padang. The co-editor of *Archaeological Prospection* has confirmed an investigation into the published paper.