The megalithic site of Gunung Padang begins to reveal its secrets

5 OCTOBER, 2014 - 01:32 APRILHOLLOWAY

The megalithic site of Gunung Padang begins to reveal its secrets

Gunung Padang is a remarkable archaeological region located 120 kilometres south of Jakarta in Indonesia, known for having the largest number of megaliths in the country. It has been the subject of much controversy in recent years as scientific research has suggested that one particular site, consisting of an ancient arrangement of megalithic stones, sits atop a hill that is actually a gigantic, pyramid-shaped tomb, dating back thousands of years. Such conclusions have, unsurprisingly, been met with fierce resistance from the academic and archaeological community. However, according to a report in Jakarta Post, excavation has now revealed an underground room built in prehistoric times, and the team have dated the youngest layer of the site to 5,200 BC. 


According to several experts from the Gunung Padang independent and integrated research team (TTRM), the site could potentially be Indonesia’s oldest and most important prehistoric landmark and should be given priority in conservation efforts.




Last year, Danny Hilman Natawidjaja, a senior geologist at Indonesia’s Centre for Geotechnical Research, conducted extensive surveys of the site, including geo-electric surveys, ground-penetrating radar, core samples, and analysis of stonework. Based on the results, he firmly believes that most of the 100-metre hill, upon which hundreds of megalithic stones are scattered, is actually man-made, built up on several stages over thousands of years by different cultures.


Despite initial opposition to claims that the entire hill was constructed by an ancient civilization, further research has come to confirm this finding and scientists have agreed to categorize the prismatic structure as a stepped pyramid that has an area of 3,094 square meters consisting of five levels. It stands more than 100 meters high and is believed to be the centre of a 25-hectare megalithic site. Dr Natawidjaja realises the challenge he has ahead of him: “It's a strong case but not an easy case.


 We are up against the world's belief.”






Researcher Graham Hancock, who has suggested the site could potentially offer proof for a lost advanced civilization of prehistoric antiquity, states on his website that “the archaeological establishment is scrambling to find some reason to reject and pour scorn on the extraordinary consequences of the excavations now taking place at Gunung Padang”.


According to Hancock, archaeologists have been lobbying to get the work stopped and, at one point, succeeded in significantly slowing down the research efforts.


 However, in August of this year, Dr Natawidjaja and his team were given full permissions to continue with their work, including approval to excavate the concealed chambers, thanks to intervention from the President of Indonesia, who fully supports the investigation.


“Preliminary excavations have produced results that prove beyond doubt that Gunung Padang in indeed a man-made pyramid of great antiquity as Dr Natawidjaja had long ago proposed,” writes Graham Hancock. “It is now evident to all that the site is vastly older than the 2500 years that archaeologists had insisted upon for decades,” he adds.


Featured image: Gunung Padang. Credit: Alistair Coombs


By April Holloway

http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/megalithic-site-gunung-padang-begins-reveal-its-secrets-002167