Part 4/18:
Hancock emphasizes that initial assumptions about Gunung Padang being a natural volcanic formation are mistaken. He references work by Indonesian archaeologist Dr. Ali Akbar, who, in 2014, dated the site to around 4500 BCE—far older than previous assessments of just a few thousand years. This date would make Gunung Padang the oldest pyramid on Earth, predating the Egyptian pyramids by approximately 500 years.
However, critical examination reveals that much of this dating relies on circumstantial evidence, including cultural layers and pottery, rather than definitive carbon dating of the structures themselves. Critics note that some archaeological data has been ignored or dismissed, often due to political or funding constraints.