Indonesia and Atlantis: The parallels are there
Researchers believe this archipelago, ”Sundaland”, may have once been home to a sophisticated civilisation lost to time
A WAVE OF remarkable discoveries is reshaping our understanding of Indonesia’s ancient past. From pyramid-like terraces and megalithic valleys to possible underwater structures, researchers believe this archipelago may have once been home to a sophisticated civilisation lost to time.
Gunung Padang’s next chapter
Indonesia’s most prominent megalithic site, Gunung Padang in West Java, enters its next research phase with renewed momentum. Plans include expanded radiocarbon dating, advanced 3D geophysical scanning, and systematic excavations aimed at revealing underground chambers. These efforts may pave the way for global recognition and eventual site restoration.
Lake Toba pyramid discovery
In North Sumatra’s Unesco-designated Geopark near Bakara Valley, three immense stone pyramid-like terraces — one rising over 120 meters — have emerged as a major archaeological enigma. Located near the ancient Sisingamangaraja Royal Palace, these formations have long been considered sacred by locals. Their scale and preservation suggest this could be among Southeast Asia’s most significant untouched megalithic complexes.
##CROSSOVER 1: Click here to read our story, West Java’s forgotten pyramid: Older than known civilisation? at www.newasiacurrents.com
Sulawesi’s vast megalithic valleys
In Central Sulawesi’s Lore Lindu region, the mysterious megaliths of Napu, Besoa, and Bada Valleys continue to intrigue many people. Hundreds of granite statues, stone vats (kalamba), and human-like figures — some with strikingly ‘alien’ features — pepper the landscape. In 2022, drone mapping and geophysical surveys revealed a previously unknown artificial hill with carved granite walls, suggesting the presence of a massive ancient ceremonial site. Experts have begun comparing this site’s cultural value to Göbekli Tepe and Easter Island.
Sundaland and the Atlantis hypothesis
Theories linking the legendary Atlantis to Sundaland — a now-submerged Ice Age landmass under Southeast Asia — are gaining renewed interest. Scholars like Prof Arysio Santos and Prof Stephen Oppenheimer argue that Sundaland may have hosted an advanced maritime civilisation pre-9600 BCE. Recent underwater surveys reveal what may be a sunken harbour in the Sunda Strait and ancient irrigation systems in the Gulf of Thailand. These findings lend weight to the idea that Plato’s Atlantis could be rooted in real Southeast Asian history.
##CROSSOVER 2: Click here to read our story, Reckoning for our forgotten past at Gunung Padang at www.newasiacurrents.com
As research continues, more unravellings of Indonesia’s ancient past as well as that of other Southeast Asia’ sites may hold secrets that could rewrite human history. — Sebastian Lim
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