The greatest mystery of the archipelago remains unsolved to this day

As an island nation with thousands of years of civilisation, Indonesia holds countless mysterious relics of the Archipelago. From Sabang to Merauke, every region has its own tales—be it unresolved legends of the Archipelago, unexplained phenomena in Indonesia, or mysterious cases in Indonesia in modern times. We’ll present these not merely as folklore but through analysis based on current research, including archaeological data and documented testimonies. This way, we can critically discern between myths and facts of the Archipelago, while appreciating the complexity of the nation’s history.

Gunung Padang Megalithic Site: The Prehistoric Civilisation Puzzle That Shook the World

As one of the most controversial archaeological mysteries of the Archipelago, the Gunung Padang site in Cianjur is more than just a pile of stones. Georadar studies and core drilling reveal layered structures estimated to be 10,000–20,000 years old—far older than the Pyramids of Giza. The main historical puzzle of Indonesia here is: Who built it, and how did Ice Age technology create a 25-hectare complex atop a hill? Archaeologists are divided; some believe it’s proof of a lost advanced civilisation, while others doubt the dating methodology. The complexity of the site is visible from the neatly arranged hexagonal basalt andesite columns—a rock type only found on volcanic slopes far beneath. This greatest unsolved mystery of the Archipelago is reinforced by the discovery of large empty chambers 15–25 metres deep using ground-penetrating radar. Are these worship halls, royal tombs, or something even more spectacular? The government continues limited excavations, but budget constraints and scientific debates are hindering significant progress. …