# Is there a human-built structure inside the hill older than the visible terraces? · Gunung Padang > Four answers have been proposed. The core is a volcanic body with natural columnar jointing; the deep layers are weathered and slumped columns… leads… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/gunung-padang/questions/QST0D32CFQW3F1A/is-there-a-human-built-structure-inside-the-hill-older-than Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:57:34+00:00 --- **0** # Is there a human-built structure inside the hill older than the visible terraces? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·4 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: the core is a volcanic body with natural columnar jointing; the deep layers are weathered and slumped columns…** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Four answers have been proposed. The core is a volcanic body with natural columnar jointing; the deep layers are weathered and slumped columns… leads, with evidence 2 for, 1 against: partly supported by its tests. Three are still possible. Of the two narrower questions under it, none is answered yet. ## Why it matters The claim that Gunung Padang hides a pyramid begun in the last Ice Age would make it the oldest monumental building on Earth by more than 10,000 years⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D32C7E83H62/retracted-geo-archaeological-prospecting-of-gunung-padang). The journal retracted the paper because its dates do not bear on human work⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D32C7P200ZQ/retraction-geo-archaeological-prospecting-of-gunung-padang), but the government programme that began in 2025 is still looking for an early phase⁠[[3]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D32CAKT7M87/gunung-padang-dibangun-6-000-sm-lebih-tua-dari-piramida). ## Answers 4 [**The core is a volcanic body with natural columnar jointing; the deep layers are weathered and slumped columns…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/gunung-padang/answers/ANS0D32CJDT28T3/the-core-is-a-volcanic-body-with-natural-columnar-jointing) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 2 for, 1 against Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/gunung-padang/answers/ANS0D32CM4G46HX/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**People built an earlier structure on the hill around 6000 BC, below the visible terraces, but nothing from…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/gunung-padang/answers/ANS0D32CKD24KJ2/people-built-an-earlier-structure-on-the-hill-around-6000-bc) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Still possible [**The hill is a pyramid built in four phases, the first between 25,000 and 14,000 BC, with chambers inside.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/gunung-padang/answers/ANS0D32CGYY63Q6/the-hill-is-a-pyramid-built-in-four-phases-the-first-between) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 2 for, 3 against Disputed ## History 1. 2023[Natawidjaja et al. puts forward: the hill is a pyramid built in four phases, the first between 25,000 and 14,000 BC, with chambers inside.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D32C7E83H62/retracted-geo-archaeological-prospecting-of-gunung-padang) 1. 2023[Lewis puts forward: the core is a volcanic body with natural columnar jointing; the deep layers are weathered and slumped columns…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D32C85P3MSD/experts-doubt-claims-that-worlds-oldest-pyramid-was) 1. 2023[Lewis: the dated soil samples contain no charcoal, bone or artefacts.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D32C85P3MSD/experts-doubt-claims-that-worlds-oldest-pyramid-was)Against: The hill is a pyramid built in four phases, the first between 25,000 and 14,000 BC, with chambers inside. 1. 2023[Natawidjaja et al.: correlated GPR, resistivity and seismic profiles show layering to 20 to 30 m and a high-resistivity,…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D32C7E83H62/retracted-geo-archaeological-prospecting-of-gunung-padang)For: The hill is a pyramid built in four phases, the first between 25,000 and 14,000 BC, with chambers inside. 1. 2023[Lewis: material moving downslope tends to orient itself, which can produce apparent order in the layers.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D32C85P3MSD/experts-doubt-claims-that-worlds-oldest-pyramid-was)For: The core is a volcanic body with natural columnar jointing; the deep layers are weathered and slumped columns… 1. 2024[Archaeological Prospection: the dated soils were not associated with any artefact or feature that could be read as anthropogenic; the…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D32C7P200ZQ/retraction-geo-archaeological-prospecting-of-gunung-padang)Against: The hill is a pyramid built in four phases, the first between 25,000 and 14,000 BC, with chambers inside. 1. 2024[Powell: the andesite blocks are columnar joints formed as the volcano's rock cooled.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D32C8DG685C/javas-megalithic-mountain)For: The core is a volcanic body with natural columnar jointing; the deep layers are weathered and slumped columns… 1. 2024[Archaeological Prospection: the 2023 paper's own 6000 to 5500 BC phase rested on soil dates of the kind the journal found unsound.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D32C7P200ZQ/retraction-geo-archaeological-prospecting-of-gunung-padang)Against: People built an earlier structure on the hill around 6000 BC, below the visible terraces, but nothing from… 1. 2025[CNN Indonesia puts forward: people built an earlier structure on the hill around 6000 BC, below the visible terraces, but nothing from…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D32CAKT7M87/gunung-padang-dibangun-6-000-sm-lebih-tua-dari-piramida) 1. 2025[CNN Indonesia: the 2025 government team reports carbon-bearing material and stone 'foundations' about 4 m under terrace 5.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D32CAKT7M87/gunung-padang-dibangun-6-000-sm-lebih-tua-dari-piramida)Against: The core is a volcanic body with natural columnar jointing; the deep layers are weathered and slumped columns… 1. 2025[CNN Indonesia: the team announced in December 2025 that laboratory tests on carbon from about 4 m under terrace 5 give about…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D32CAKT7M87/gunung-padang-dibangun-6-000-sm-lebih-tua-dari-piramida)For: People built an earlier structure on the hill around 6000 BC, below the visible terraces, but nothing from… 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/gunung-padang/questions/QST0D32CFQW3F1A/is-there-a-human-built-structure-inside-the-hill-older-than%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/gunung-padang/questions/QST0D32CFQW3F1A/is-there-a-human-built-structure-inside-the-hill-older-than%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/gunung-padang/questions/QST0D32CFQW3F1A/is-there-a-human-built-structure-inside-the-hill-older-than%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/gunung-padang/questions/QST0D32CFQW3F1A/is-there-a-human-built-structure-inside-the-hill-older-than%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/gunung-padang/questions/QST0D32CFQW3F1A/is-there-a-human-built-structure-inside-the-hill-older-than%23add-source) Where it fits Gunung Padang **Is there a human-built structure inside the hill older than the visible terraces?** Key question · you're here [Do the geophysical anomalies mark chambers inside the hill?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/gunung-padang/questions/QST0D32CGFA2MBT/do-the-geophysical-anomalies-mark-chambers-inside-the-hill)Open · 3 answers, inconclusive [Were the buried andesite columns placed by people or are they in natural position?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/gunung-padang/questions/QST0D32CG7G23PE/were-the-buried-andesite-columns-placed-by-people-or-are)Most likely · the buried columns are in or near their natural position, cooled in place or slumped downslope [ Ask a question under this one ]