Gunung Padang, Indonesia, is an archaeological site sitting at an elevation of 885 metres, built on top of an extinct volcano. The site features five stone terraces, accessed via a flight of 370 andesite steps (Wikipedia).
The site was first mentioned in 1980 by a Dutch geologist, Rogier Verbeek, and was rediscovered in 1979 by local farmers. Surveys taken since the discovery highlight that Gunung Padang is the largest megalithic site in Southest Asia (Wikipedia).
In Sundanese legend, the site is believed to have been constructed overnight by King Siliwangi using supernatural powers (Wikipedia). The name Gunung Padang means “Mountain of Light” or “Mountain of Enlightenment” in Sundanese (Wikipedia)
The terraces are supported by walls made from carefully arranged andesite columns (hexagonal volcanic stones believed to be shaped and transported via prehistoric techniques). A number of these stones show signs of cutting, aligning and potential symbolic arrangements. (Wikipedia) Some researchers believe that the stones were strategically placed to absorb seismic energy, which, if true, suggests an extraordinary understanding of earthquake-resistant architecture by ancient builders.
In recent decades, geoelectric, seismic, and GPR surveys (Ground Penetrating Radar) have suggested the existence of underground chambers and man-made layers far beneath the surface, possibly pointing to an older, buried structure that potentially dates back over ten thousand years ago (AS.com, Wikipedia).
Gunung padang remains one of the most compelling and heavily-debated megalithic sites in the world. Whether it’s just a ceremonial platform, or a glimpse of a much older structure, the site challenges us to think sincerely about our understanding of humanities ancestral past.
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