Bosnian pyramids

Bosnian pyramids refers to a site known as Visočica hill (or Grad hill), in the Bosnia and Herzegovina town of Visoko, northwest of Sarajevo, which became the focus of international attention in October 2005, following a news-media campaign promoting the false idea that it is actually the largest of a group of ancient man-made pyramids, the so-called Bosnian pyramids.

Scientific investigations of the site show there is no pyramid. [ [http://subrosa.dailygrail.com/download.html Pyramid No More] , Sub Rosa, Issue 6, Oct 2006.] [ [http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba92/feat3.shtml The great Bosnian pyramid scheme] by Anthony Harding, British Archaeology November/December 2006] [John Bohannon, [http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/313/5794/1718 Mad About Pyramids] , Science Magazine, 22 September 2006.] Additionally, scientists have criticised the Bosnian authorities for supporting the pyramid claim saying, "This scheme is a cruel hoax on an unsuspecting public and has no place in the world of genuine science." [ [http://www.e-a-a.org/statement.pdf Declaration from the European Association of Archaeologists] , 11 Dec 2006]

The 213 metre Visočica hill, upon which the Old town of Visoki was once sited, is roughly pyramid-shaped. The idea that it constitutes an ancient artificial edifice was publicised by Houston-based expatriate Bosnian author and metalworker Semir Osmanagić, whose subsequent excavations at the site have uncovered what he claims to be a paved entrance plateau and tunnels, as well as stone blocks and ancient mortar which he has suggested once covered the structure. Osmanagić has claimed that the dig involved an international team of archaeologists from Australia, Austria, Bosnia, Scotland and Slovenia. [ [http://smh.com.au/news/World/Australian-in-Bosnia-pyramid-riddle/2006/01/20/1137553735882.html "Australian in Bosnia pyramid riddle"] , "Sydney Morning Herald", 20 January, 2006] However, many archaeologists he named have stated they had not agreed to participate and were never at the site. [Mark Rose, [http://www.archaeology.org/online/features/osmanagic/update.html "Bosnian "Pyramids" Update"] , "Archaeology Magazine Online", 14 June, 2006] The dig began in April 2006.

Interpretation

Expert interpretations

Semir Osmanagić's claims, widely reported in the mass media, have been challenged by a number of experts, who have accused him of promoting pseudo-scientific notions and damaging archaeological sites with his excavations. Penn State University Professor Garrett Fagan is quoted as saying "They should not be allowed to destroy genuine sites in the pursuit of these delusions [...] It’s as if someone were given permission to bulldoze Stonehenge to find secret chambers of lost ancient wisdom underneath." [Nick Hawton, [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-2135223,00.html "Indiana Jones of the Balkans and the mystery of a hidden pyramid"] , "Times Online", 15 April 2006]

Boston University's Curtis Runnels, an expert in prehistoric Greece and the Balkans states that, "Between 27,000 and 12,000 years ago, the Balkans were locked in the last Glacial maximum, a period of very cold and dry climate with glaciers in some of the mountain ranges. The only occupants were Upper Paleolithic hunters and gatherers who left behind open-air camp sites and traces of occupation in caves. These remains consist of simple stone tools, hearths, and remains of animals and plants that were consumed for food. These people did not have the tools or skills to engage in the construction of monumental architecture."Rose, Mark. " [http://www.archaeology.org/online/features/osmanagic/index.html The Bosnia-Atlantis Connection] ". "Archaeology Magazine Online". URL accessed 2006-04-29.]

Enver Imamovic of the University of Sarajevo, a former director of the National Museum of Sarajevo, concerned that the excavations will damage historic sites such as the medieval royal capital Visoki, said that the excavations would "irreversibly destroy a national treasure". [Lucian Harris, [http://www.theartnewspaper.com/article01.asp?id=237 "Amateur to dig on site of medieval capital in search of Bosnia's own Valley of the Kings"] , "The Art Newspaper", 15 April 2006] Excavations by archaeologists not related to the Foundation in the summer of 2008 uncovered medieval artefacts and led to renewed calls for the government to cancel Osmanagić's digging permits. ["Archaeologists find medieval artefacts on Mt. Visocica, disparage pyramid seeker" [http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2008/09/18/feature-02] ]

In a letter to the editor of The Times on 25 April 2006, Professor Anthony Harding, president of the European Association of Archaeologists, referred to Osmanagić's theories as "wacky" and "absurd" and expressed concern that insufficient safeguards were in place to protect Bosnia's "rich heritage" from "looting and unmonitored or unauthorised development". [Anthony Harding, [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,59-2150036,00.html "Bosnia's rich heritage"] , "Times Online", 25 April 2006] After visiting the site himself, Harding reported, "...we saw areas of natural stone (a breccia), with fissures and cracks; but no sign of anything that looked like archaeology." [ [http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba92/feat3.shtml The great Bosnian pyramid scheme] by Anthony Harding, British Archaeology November/December 2006]

According to one source, on May 8, 2006, members of the Geological team investigating Visočica on behalf of the Archaeological Park: Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun Foundation held a press conference in Tuzla to present the results of their research. The academics, from the Faculty of Mining and Geology [ [http://www.rggf.untz.ba/ RGGF / Start (novosti) ] ] at the University of Tuzla [ [http://www.untz.ba/index_en.htm University of Tuzla ] ] and led by Professor Dr. Sejfudin Vrabac, [ [http://www.rggf.untz.ba/rggfosoblje/nosoblje_sejfudinv.htm Untitled Document ] ] concluded that the hill is a natural geological formation, made of classic sediments of layered composition and varying thickness, and that its shape is a consequence of endodynamical and exodynamical processes in post-Miocene era.

According to Professor Vrabac, who specializes in paleogeology, there are dozens of like morphological formations in the Sarajevo-Zenica mining basin alone. The Geological team report on Visocica, based on the data collected in six drill holes at 3 to 17 metre depths, is supported by the Research and Teaching Council of the Faculty of Mining and Geology, as well as the Association of Geologists of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. [ [http://peticija.white.prohosting.com/us.htm "Stop Osmanagich NOW!"] , 08 May, 2006]

In June 2006, Zahi Hawass's name became linked to the excavations [ [http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060609/sc_afp/bosniaarchaeology_060609194121;_ylt=AnAo9ZP6_dA_5zN0kLWRagDPOrgF;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA-- "Bosnian 'pyramid' created by nature, say European experts"] , Yahoo! AFP, June 9 2006.] as recommending an expert, Aly Abd Alla Barakat, to investigate the hills. Upon being contacted Hawass denied any involvement, accusing Osmanagić of "giving out false information". [ [http://www.archaeology.org/online/features/osmanagic/zahi_hawass.pdf "Letter to Archaeology Magazine" (PDF)] ]

The Archaeological Park: Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun Foundation has said that Barakat inspected the hills and stated, "My opinion is that this is a type of pyramid, probably a primitive pyramid." [Mark Rose, [http://www.archaeology.org/online/features/osmanagic/update.html "Bosnian "Pyramids" Update"] , "Archaeology Magazine Online", 14 June, 2006] [Aida Cerkez-Robinson [http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=2059759 "British Expert Nixes Bosnia Pyramid Claim"] , ABC News] In November 2007 an English version of a 2006 report by Barakat was posted on the foundation site. [ [http://irna.lautre.net/At-last-Dr-Barakat-s-report.html " At last, Dr. Barakat’s report"] , 08 May, 2006] Osmanagić also invited geologist and alternative archaeologist Robert Schoch to visit the site. In a preliminary report he concluded that there were natural geological explanations for all the features claimed to be artificial by Osmanagić. In the case of the tunnels he further added:

The much-touted “ancient inscriptions” seem not to be ancient at all. I was told by a reliable source that the inscriptions were not there when members of the “pyramid team” initially entered the tunnels less than two years ago. The “ancient inscriptions” had been added since, perhaps non-maliciously, or perhaps as a downright hoax. [ [http://www.robertschoch.net/Bosnian%20Geology%20Robert%20Schoch%20%20Pyramids%20Colette%20Dowell.htm The Bosnian Pyramid Phenomenon] , "The New Archaeology Review" vol 1.8 pp 16-17] , September 2006]

The foundation has described such comments as "ill-intentioned" referring to "irrelevant and completely incorrect facts". [ [http://www.piramidasunca.ba/eng/news/news_item.asp?NewsID=110 "Comments regarding the visit of Dr. Schoch and Dr. Dowell to Visoko"] , Sept 2006] In return Dr Schoch's website documents "extreme damage being done by the way the excavations are being performed," and accuses Osmanagić of launching "a deliberate smear campaign." [ [http://www.robertschoch.net/Circular%20Times%20Table%20of%20Contents.htm"Articles by Dr. Schoch & Dr. Dowell"] ]

Two of the archaeologists who worked as volunteers in 2006 are Silvana Cobanov and Nancy Gallou. In an article in BIH Dani magazine, [ [http://www.bhdani.com/default.asp?kat=txt&broj_id=552&tekst_rb=12 Nezavisni magazin BH DANI - ONLINE ] ] you can find an email from Silvana Cobanov (who was said to be supervising the archaeological work) to the members of the Board of Directors of Osmanagic's foundation which says in part: "It is difficult to admit, first for myself and then to the others, that I have been doing the figurehead on the terrain. The works on Pljesevica were conducted by Goran Cakic (a graduate mechanical engineer). My efforts to change this have been unsuccessful. To my regret, I have contacted orally several times the project manager, discussed with Goran Cakic, cautioned him that he should write his observations and conclusions in his private diary, categorically protested that Amir Susa Zombi [a man employed by the Foundation who seems to be more or less in charge of everything, and particularly the security] may not and should not plot, dig and excavate a little bit here and a little bit there (and this literally as it seems)..."While she was working there a rectangular construction was unearthed at the base of one of the alleged pyramids.Silvane Cobanov in her parting email informed Osmanagic about what it really was; a recent construction with "dry walls, very unstable". The evidence for this are the bricks of which it is made, and the nails, also recent. "I have protested that one should not talk about a tomb, or entry to the pyramid, or a military post... to say to the visitors such unfounded suppositions is in my opinion dishonest. So, to conclude: on Pljesevica we didn't find a single archaeological artifact, and it is, in my opinion, sterile in the archeological sense."

Osmanagić's interpretation

Osmanagić has named Visočica hill the "Pyramid of the Sun", while two nearby hills, identified from satellite and aerial photography, have been dubbed the "Pyramid of the Moon" and the "Pyramid of the (Bosnian) Dragon" (and another two, one named the "Pyramid of the Earth", have been mentioned in reports). Newspaper reports have quoted Osmanagić as claiming that they were constructed by ancient Illyrian inhabitants of the Balkans as early as 12,000 BC. But in an interview with Philip Coppens in "Nexus" (April-May 2006), Osmanagić attempted to clarify his previous statements, stating he was misquoted: he does claim that they were most likely constructed by the Illyrians, who he claims lived in the area from 12,000 BC to 500 BC, and that the pyramid was therefore most likely constructed "between" those two dates - not "in" 12,000 BC.

Osmanagić claims the excavation has produced evidence of building blocks as well as tunnels. Earlier geological work has also indicated that human activity had shaped the hill. [N. Nukić, [http://www.piramidasunca.ba/ajaxfiles/epodmeni/eizvjestaji/egeoloskivisocicaokt2005.doc Report on a Geological Survey of "Visočica" Elevation in Visoko, Bosnia and Herzegovina (Word document)] , " [http://www.piramidasunca.ba/indexeng.htm Archaelogical Park: Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun Foundation] ", November 2005] Additionally Osmanagić has found tunnels in the hillside which he interprets as ventilation shafts.

Osmanagić believes his discoveries around Visoko will have further implications for world prehistory. By comparing the varying heights of the tallest pyramids in Mexico and Egypt with Visočica hill, he concluded that the pyramids may all have been built by the same people(s), with the Bosnian Pyramid being the last to be built. However, upon further thought he has decided that this dating mechanism may not be reliable and has now announced Visočica hill could be "The mother of all Pyramids", a claim he says would be corroborated by the existence of sacred geometry and further numerological study of messages left in the pyramid for future generations. [ [http://www.fena.ba/uk/vijest.html?fena_id=FSA381913&rubrika=ES Osmanagic: Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun Candidate for “Mother” of all Pyramids] , " [http://www.fena.ba/uk/index.html FENA News"] , 20 April 2005]

Osmanagić estimates that the Sun pyramid stands 722 feet (220m) high (or, depending upon the report, either 230 feet (70m) high or 328 feet (100m) high). If it is 722 feet, it would be one third taller than the Great Pyramid of Giza, making it the largest pyramidal structure on Earth.

The current target of the project is to complete excavation by 2012. This is in order to "break a cloud of negative energy, allowing the Earth to receive cosmic energy from the centre of the galaxy" according to Osmanagić, [" [http://www.misteriji.si/?content=tema_meseca Energijsko središče sveta?] ", [http://www.misteriji.si/ Misteriji] . Accessed 13 July 2006. (Slovenian)] who also hopes that it will be listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site. [" [http://www.piramidasunca.ba/eng/podmeni/programistrazivanja/program.htm 5-year Plan of Research on Visoko’s Visocica 1 Jan 2006 - 31 Dec 2010] ", [http://www.piramidasunca.ba/ Archaeological Park: Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun Foundation] . Accessed 13 July 2006.]

References

Images from the excavation sites

"Pyramid of the Sun"

"Pyramid of the Moon"

ee also

*Mergeleva Ridge ("Ukrainian pyramids")
*Pyramids of Guimar
*French pyramids
*Hoaxes
*Pseudoarchaeology
*Pseudohistory
*Pseudoscience
*Pyramidology
*New Age

External links

* Bosnian pyramid location: [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Sarajevo+&ll=43.977499,18.175507&spn=0.05213,0.173035&t=h 1] [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=43.978000N+18.178000E&t=k&ll=43.977993,18.177996&spn=0.035391,0.083599&om=1 2] — Google maps
* [http://www.piramidasunca.ba/ Archaeological Park: Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun Foundation] — Foundation created by Osmanagic to promote his interpretations bs icon/en icon
* [http://www.alternativnahistorija.com/AH8main.htm Bosanska Piramida Sunca] — Osmanagic's book on the subject bs icon
* [http://irna.lautre.net/-Bosnian-pyramids-.html Bosnian pyramids] skeptical analysis
* [http://www.aneks8komisija.com.ba/main.php?id_struct=50&lang=4&action=view&id=2409 Old Visoki fort, Bosnian National Monument]
* [http://irna.lautre.net/Geology-of-the-Bosnian-pyramids.html Geology of the Bosnian "pyramids"]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4377290.stm BBC News: Europe's first pyramid?] (a few paragraphs down) — very early report, 26 October, 2005
* [http://www.archaeology.org/online/features/osmanagic The Bosnia-Atlantis Connection - from "Archaeology" magazine] April 27, 2006
* [http://hnn.us/blogs/entries/25850.html Bosnian Pyramids: Absence of Evidence is not Evidence of Atlantis] May 29, 2006
* [http://www.archaeology.org/online/features/osmanagic/zahi_hawass.pdf Dr. Hawass' Letter Concerning Bosnian "Pyramids"] June 27, 2006
* [http://www.archaeology.org/online/features/osmanagic/update.html More on Bosnian "Pyramids" by Mark Rose] June 27, 2006
* [http://www.dailygrail.com/node/3536 Robert Schoch on Alleged Bosnian Pyramids" by Colette M. Dowell] August 26, 2006
* [http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=7281136 "Bosnia's pyramids: A towering success"] August 10, 2006
* [http://www.robertschoch.net/Bosnian%20Geology%20Robert%20Schoch%20%20Pyramids%20Colette%20Dowell.htm "The Bosnian Pyramid Phenomenon"] September 2006
* [http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/313/5794/1718 "Mad About Pyramids"] September 22, 2006
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1887640,00.html "Tourists flock to Bosnian hills but experts mock amateur archaeologist's pyramid claims"] October 5, 2006
* [http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/12/26/bosnian_pyramids/ Ancient pyramids discovered in Bosnia - Natural or man-made?] December 26, 2006