A pyramid concealed within a hill on an island in West Java, Indonesia, may hold the title of the world's oldest, according to findings by an interdisciplinary team of archaeologists, geophysicists, and geologists. The research, published in the archaeological journal Archaeological Prospection in October, was led by Danny Hilman Natawidjaja from Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency.

Known as Gunung Padang or the "mountain of enlightenment," the site, situated atop an extinct volcano, has long been revered as a sacred location by locals and was designated a national cultural heritage site in 1998.

Previously subject to scholarly debates regarding its nature, with some suggesting it was a man-made pyramid and others asserting it was a natural geological formation, the recent study led by Dr. Natawidjaja and the team presents compelling evidence that Gunung Padang was primarily constructed by human hands.

The structure is believed to have been developed in distinct stages, with the oldest phase dating back to 25,000 BC to 14,000 BC when the pyramid was sculpted and architecturally shaped from a natural lava hill. This revelation establishes Gunung Padang as at least 16,000 years old. The final construction phase of the pyramid is estimated to have taken place between 2,000 BC and 1,100 BC.

Conducted between October 2011 and October 2014, the field survey involved drilling into the mound’s center, excavating trenches, and collecting soil samples, allowing the researchers to explore the layers of Gunung Padang over 30 meters below the surface. The study strongly suggests that Gunung Padang is not a natural hill but a pyramid-like construction, and the team also discovered evidence of a substantial cavity, potentially a concealed chamber, within the pyramid. In conclusion, the researchers assert that Gunung Padang stands as a remarkable testament, potentially claiming the title of the world's oldest pyramid.