Gunung Padang Trends on Twitter, Claimed as the World's Oldest Pyramid Surpassing Egypt’s Giza | Gita Blog Sport
Gitablogsport.com - Gunung Padang, a megalithic site located in Cianjur Regency, West Java, Indonesia, has recently gone viral on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
This sudden popularity emerged after an Indian account, IndiaTales7, ranked the site as number one in a thread discussing the most mysterious places on Earth.
In the post, IndiaTales7 claimed that Gunung Padang is believed to be the oldest pyramid in the world, predating even the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt.
The statement quickly sparked reactions from Indonesian netizens, many of whom posted authentic photos of the Gunung Padang site to correct the information shared by the Indian account.
So, what exactly is Gunung Padang, and what are the historical and mysterious stories surrounding it?
The Ancient Site of Gunung Padang
According to historical records, Gunung Padang was first documented by Dutch archaeologist N.J. Krom in 1914.
In his report, Krom noted that the site is situated near Mount Melati.
However, the site was largely forgotten by archaeologists until it was rediscovered by local residents in 1979.
Since then, extensive research has been conducted by Indonesia's National Center for Archaeological Research.
By 1990, Gunung Padang was officially designated as a protected cultural heritage site under Indonesian law.
This prehistoric monument consists of five main terraces, formed from andesite stone columns roughly one meter in length.
According to Indonesia's Ministry of Education and Culture's Cultural Map, Gunung Padang is considered a relic from the megalithic era, most likely used for worship or spiritual ceremonies by ancient societies.
Covering an estimated 291,800 square meters, Gunung Padang is recognized as one of the largest megalithic sites in Southeast Asia.
In fact, research suggests it is the largest stepped pyramid structure (punden berundak) in the region.
The total area of Gunung Padang spans approximately 3,000 square meters, with an elevation of about 110 meters above ground level.
The site is mainly constructed from andesite rocks, which researchers found to have unique magnetic properties and resonant acoustic qualities.