This 25,000-Year-Old Pyramid Wasn’t Built By Humans, Say Archaeologists

Although Guinness World Records still recognizes Egypt’s Step Pyramid of Djoser, designed for Pharaoh Djoser by the architect Imhotep around 2630 BCE, as the earliest pyramid ever built, an October 2023 paper in the journal Archaeological Prospection ignited debate by proposing a far older structure on the other side of the world.

Indonesian geologist Danny Hilman Natawidjaja and eleven co-authors reported geophysical readings, drill cores, and radiocarbon dates from Gunung Padang, a megalithic hilltop site in West Java. They argued that an andesite-lava knoll had been carefully carved and clad in stone to create a multi-layered “pyramid,” with the deepest construction phase allegedly beginning around 25,000 BCE, during the last glacial maximum.

According to the authors, such workmanship implies “remarkable masonry capabilities” long before agriculture took hold, echoing the way Turkey’s Göbekli Tepe (c. 9600 BCE) has already pushed back accepted horizons of monumental building.

Specialists quickly pointed out that the dates came from loose soil retrieved in boreholes rather than from cut stone, mortar, charcoal, bone, or other unmistakably human traces. Cardiff University archaeologist Flint Dibble called the data “really, really weak,” adding that gravity and erosion can naturally align rock fragments on a slope.

Bill Farley of Southern Connecticut State University likewise noted that the 27,000-year-old samples lack any cultural hallmarks such as burnt material or faunal remains, making a human origin doubtful.

Watch the video

From investigation to retraction

By December 2023, the journal had opened a formal inquiry, and on 18 March 2024, the study was fully retracted for a “major error”: the dated soils were “not associated with any artefacts or features that could be reliably interpreted as man-made.”

All twelve authors contested the decision, but the retraction has returned scholarly consensus to earlier estimates that Gunung Padang’s stone terraces were built between about 2000 BCE and 1100 BCE, consistent with other Indonesian punden berundak stepped monuments.

Pyramid versus terrace: Unlike the true pyramids of Egypt’s Old Kingdom, Gunung Padang is a series of stone platforms capping an extinct volcano. Indonesian archaeologists have long regarded it as an outsized example of the archipelago’s stepped-terrace tradition, not a sharply angled pyramid in the Egyptian sense.

Why the story spread: The pre-agricultural date dovetails with pseudo-historical narratives popularized by writer Graham Hancock, who proofread the manuscript; critics warn that such claims can overshadow Indigenous achievements and muddy the public understanding of deep history.

Next steps: Natawidjaja has invited independent teams to re-sample and re-survey the hill. If further excavations find cut-stone faces or construction debris sealed beneath datable layers, the debate could reopen—though most specialists regard that as unlikely given present evidence.

Geological Insights into Human History

Geologist Danny Hilman Natawidjaja emphasizes the significance of the findings at Gunung Padang, suggesting that ancient civilizations may have been more advanced than previously thought. The geophysical surveys indicate a complex structure that challenges our understanding of human history. Natawidjaja's research highlights how geological formations can sometimes be misinterpreted as natural rather than man-made, which could reshape our historical timeline.

He argues that acknowledging ancient engineering capabilities is crucial for a holistic understanding of past societies. This perspective encourages a reevaluation of archaeological methods, advocating for a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates geology, archaeology, and anthropology.

At present, the Step Pyramid of Djoser remains the uncontested oldest verified pyramid, while Gunung Padang stands as a compelling but wholly different kind of site—one whose deepest strata still await definitive archaeological proof of human hands.

Dr. Robert M. Schoch, a geologist known for his work on ancient monuments, suggests that the debate surrounding Gunung Padang's origins invites skepticism and curiosity. He urges the archaeological community to remain open-minded while evaluating the evidence presented by Natawidjaja and his team. According to Schoch, a rigorous peer-review process is essential for validating such transformative claims.

He stresses that collaborative research across disciplines will enhance our understanding of ancient technologies and cultures. By fostering dialogue among experts, we can create a more nuanced picture of human history that integrates geological and archaeological data.

The implications of these findings are profound, challenging long-held beliefs about human architectural capabilities. As experts like Danny Hilman Natawidjaja and Dr. Robert M. Schoch continue to explore these ancient sites, we may uncover a deeper narrative of human history that transcends traditional timelines.

Future research should adopt an interdisciplinary approach, integrating geology and archaeology to better understand these structures. By doing so, we not only honor the complexity of our past but also pave the way for new discoveries that can redefine our understanding of civilization's evolution.