This ‘25,000-Year-Old Pyramid’ Is Older than Egypt’s—but Scientists Say It Was Not Built by Humans – The Daily Galaxy –Great Discoveries Channel
Archaeologists may have uncovered the world’s oldest pyramid—but it might not be what you think. Some claim it’s 25,000 years old, built long before civilization as we know it. Others argue it’s just a natural formation, with no signs of human construction at all.For centuries, the Djoser Step Pyramid in Egypt has held the title of the world’s oldest pyramid, estimated to have been built around 2,630 BC. But a controversial study from a few years ago suggested that a site in Indonesia—Gunung Padang—might predate Djoser’s pyramid by tens of thousands of years.More astonishingly, the research hinted at something even more unthinkable: the possibility that this ancient structure wasn’t entirely man-made.A paper published in Archaeological Prospection claimed that Gunung Padang might have been constructed as early as 25,000 BC—deep into the last Ice Age, long before mainstream archaeology believes human civilization was capable of large-scale construction. The authors proposed that what appears to be a natural lava hill could have been sculpted and “architecturally enveloped” over time.Their argument rested on deep core samples revealing layered structures beneath the visible site, some of which seemed deliberately placed. If true, this would rewrite everything we know about the timeline of advanced masonry and challenge the assumption that civilization only took off with the advent of agriculture 11,000 years ago.Not everyone was convinced.Archaeologists and geophysicists were quick to criticize the study, arguing that the so-called pyramid was nothing more than a naturally formed hill. Flint Dibble of Cardiff University dismissed the findings outright, stating:“Material rolling down a hill is going to, on average, orient itself. There is no evidence of working or anything to indicate that it’s man-made.”Others pointed out a major flaw in the argument: dating soil samples does not date a structure. Bill Farley, an archaeologist at Southern Connecticut State University, noted that the soil samples lacked key indicators of human activity, such as charcoal or bone fragments.The skepticism reached a boiling point, leading Archaeological Prospection to launch an investigation into the study’s findings.Ultimately, the journal decided to retract the paper, stating that its conclusions were not supported by the evidence. The editors noted that the radiocarbon dating used in the study did not prove Gunung Padang was a man-made structure, dealing a decisive blow to the claim of an ancient pyramid.But the study’s lead author, Professor Danny Hilman Natawidjaja, refused to back down. He called the retraction:“A severe form of censorship, blatantly disregarding the fundamental principles of scientific inquiry, transparency, and fairness in academic discourse.“The debate over Gunung Padang isn’t just about one site—it speaks to a broader question about our past. Could civilization have emerged earlier than we think? Could there be forgotten structures, older than the pyramids of Egypt, waiting to be uncovered?For now, Djoser’s Step Pyramid still holds the record. But the search for humanity’s first great monuments is far from over.Got a reaction? Share your thoughts in the commentsEnjoyed this article? Subscribe to our free newsletter for engaging stories, exclusive content, and the latest news.The three most epic names in archaeology.
Indiana Jones.
Lara Croft.
Flint Dibble.Yeah, because nature is known for creating perfectly pyramid mountains…Eurocentrism is so weird. “We follow the science!” Science says you’re wrong and the people who told you that were right. “Aliens. Not human.” *face-palm*Until recently Eurocentric archeologists told us that turtle island didn’t have any advanced civilizations until colonization. Then it was, no society lived here before then. Then it was, no society older than 5,000 years. Then it was, no one was here 10,000 years ago. And now they have found 20,000 year old footprints and large civilization monuments that are 11,000 years old, just like the indigenous said. Maybe we should question this “science” when it doesn’t match the people with the history.Comment Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
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