7/6/13 Bosnian pyramids - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bosnian pyramids
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search

Coordinates: 43°58′35.63″N 18°10′34.49″E​

/​
43.9765639°N 18.1762472°E

Visočica overlooking Visoko in 2007

The "Bosnian pyramids" are a cluster of natural geological formations known as flatirons[1] near the
Bosnian town of Visoko, northwest of Sarajevo. The hill named Visočica became the focus of international
attention in October 2005 following a news-media campaign promoting the idea that they are human-made
and the largest ancient pyramids on Earth.

In analysing the site, its known history, and the excavations; geologists, archeologists, and other scientists
have concluded that they are natural formations and that there are no signs of human building involved.[2][3][4]
There is a consensus amongst mainstream scientists that: "This scheme is a cruel hoax on an unsuspecting
public and has no place in the world of genuine science."[5] A 2007 report suggests that one of the pyramids
is a hill which has been modified into a pyramid-like shape by humans, possibly in order to prevent erosion,
which is widely occurring in the area in question.[6] A 2008 report calls for further research.[7]

The 213-metre (699 ft) Visočica hill is where the Old town of Visoki was once sited. The idea that it
constitutes an ancient artificial edifice was publicised by Bosnian author Semir Osmanagić. His 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, Ireland, United Kingdom
and Slovenia.[8] However, many archaeologists he named have stated they had not agreed to participate and
were never at the site.[9] The dig began in April 2006, and has resulted in reshaping the hill, making it look
like a Mayan step pyramid.[1]

Contents
1 Interpretation
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosnian_pyramids 1/9
7/6/13 Bosnian pyramids - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1.1 Osmanagić's interpretation

1.2 Scientific explanations
1.2.1 Prehistory
1.2.2 Archaeology
1.2.3 Geology and paleogeology
1.2.4 Egyptology
2 Hoax
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

Interpretation[edit]
Osmanagić's interpretation[edit]

Osmanagić has named the Visočica hill the "Pyramid of the Sun", and two nearby hills, identified from satellite
and aerial photography, the "Pyramid of the Moon" (Plješevica hill) and the "Pyramid of the (Bosnian)
Dragon" (another two, "Pyramid of the Earth" and "Pyramid of Love" 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. 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. Additionally
Osmanagić claims to have 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 were all built by the same people, 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.[10]

Osmanagić estimates that the Sun pyramid stands 722 feet (220 m) high (or, depending upon the report,
either 230 feet (70 m) high or 328 feet (100 m) 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.[11] 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,[11] who also hopes that it will be listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site.[12]

In October 2011 a Sarajevo court ended a four-year court case by giving permission for further investigation
of Visočica hill.[13]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosnian_pyramids 2/9
7/6/13 Bosnian pyramids - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Scientific explanations[edit]

Several academic branches are involved in the dispute surrounding the pyramids, including prehistory,
archeology, geology and egyptology.

Prehistory[edit]

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."[14]

Archaeology[edit]

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".[15] 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."[3]

Harding, together with six other prominent archeologists, also signed a declaration stating: "This scheme is a
cruel hoax on an unsuspecting public and has no place in the world of genuine science."[5]

Geology and paleogeology[edit]

On 8 May 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 at the University of Tuzla and led by
Professor Dr. Sejfudin Vrabac, concluded that the hill is a natural geological formation, made of clastic
sediments of layered composition and varying thickness, and that its shape is a consequence of
endodynamical and exodynamical processes in the post-Miocene era.[16][17]

According to Professor Vrabac, who specializes in paleogeology, there are dozens of similar 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.[17][citation needed]

In June 2006, Zahi Hawass's name became linked to the excavations[18] as recommending a supposed
expert, Ali Abdullah Barakat, to investigate the hills. Barakat is affilated to the Egyptian Mineral Resources
Agency, and has co-authored an article in the prestiguous scientific journal Science.[19] Upon being contacted
Hawass denied any involvement, accusing Osmanagić of "giving out false information", and clarifying that
Barakat "knows nothing about Egyptian pyramids".[20]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosnian_pyramids 3/9
7/6/13 Bosnian pyramids - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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."[9][21] In November
2007 an English version of a 2006 report by Barakat was posted on the foundation site.[22] In the report,
Barakat states that Visoko is located at an important intersection of ancient roads; that the age of the tunnel
might be dated from karstification features;

On the Sun pyramid, Barakat writes, "The possibility that natural processes created this shape is very weak.
Natural processes can create hazards, but not such pyramidal forms as these. (...) One may conclude that the
human hands modified this hill to give it a more regular/geometrical shape (artificial pyramid) (...) The nature
of this pyramid indicates that human hands sculptured the body of the pyramid from top to bottom. (...) This
model of construction can be easily destroyed by natural processes, leaving the natural hill, thus only the
traces of the covering stones may remain". Barakat suggests that reason for the sculpting of this pyramid may
have been to protect it from natural processes, as the pyramidal form is a more resistant shape. His conlusion
is as follows:

The observed hills (Visocica, Pljesevica, Buci) are most likely natural hills that were later
modified in places by human activities, possibly during several historical episodes. The traces of
such modifications have been either overprinted by later cultures, or by simple erosive tectonic
processes, which are rather significant and far-reaching in a complex of the geographical,
cultural and geological system, as seen in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Even though, there is a
compelling evidence of the existence of the pyramid-shaped, man-made hill-forms in Bosnia, the
results are still inconclusive and require further detailed geological, geophysical, tectonic and
most importantly, archaeological studies.

Osmanagić also invited geologist and alternative archaeologist Robert Schoch to visit the site. In a preliminary
report Schoch 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.[23] 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."[24]

Egyptology[edit]

In 2007 a report by Egyptologist Nabil Mohamed Abdel Swelim was publicised by the Archaeological Park
which said that the Pyramid of the Sun was the world's largest pyramid.[25] After two visits to Visoko he
released a report in 2007 in which he concluded: “Arguments in favour or in disfavour have no effect on the
fact that the pyramid concept and the properties are there for everyone to see”.[26] However, in 2010 he
released a report in which he clarified that he does not claim it is a man-made pyramid, but rather that he uses
the term for any feature, natural or artificial, which is a geometric pyramid. He does not exclude the possibility
it is man-made.[27]

Hoax[edit]
Seven leading European archaeologists have issued a European Association of Archaeologists Declaration
stating:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosnian_pyramids 4/9
7/6/13 Bosnian pyramids - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

We, the undersigned professional archaeologists from all parts of Europe, wish to protest strongly at
the continuing support by the Bosnian authorities for the so-called “pyramid” project being conducted
on hills at and near Visoko. This scheme is a cruel hoax on an unsuspecting public and has no place in
the world of genuine science. It is a waste of scarce resources that would be much better used in
protecting the genuine archaeological heritage and is diverting attention from the pressing problems that
are affecting professional archaeologists in Bosnia-Herzegovina on a daily basis.[28]

The Declaration was signed by Hermann Parzinger, President of German Archaeological Institute in Berlin,
Willem Willems, Inspector General of Rijksinspectie Archeologie in Hague, Jean-Paul Demoule, President of
Institut nationale de recherches archéologiques préventives (INRAP) in Paris, Romuald Schild, Director of
the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, Vassil Nikolov,
Director of the Institute of Archaeology of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in Sofia, Anthony Harding,
President of the European Association of Archaeologists, Mike Heyworth, Director of the Council for British
Archaeology in York.[28]

Osmanagić's claims, widely reported in the mass media, have been categorically refuted by a number of
experts, who have accused him of promoting pseudo-scientific notions and damaging archaeological sites with
his excavations. Amar Karapus, a curator at the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo,
said "When I first read about the pyramids I thought it was a very funny joke. I just couldn't believe that
anyone in the world could believe this."[1] Garrett Fagan of Penn State University 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."[29]

Enver Imamović 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".[30] 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.[31]

A somewhat milder view than the hoax qualification is held by an Egyptian archaeologist Nabil Swelim who,
in his 2008 report, states: The realization of the presence of the Bosnian pyramid hills have generated
joy, anger and other reactions that range from reasonable to temperamental. The angry and
temperamental who claim that there are no pyramids in Bosnia must know that in scientific research:
negative evidence is no evidence.[32]

See also[edit]
Exploratory research
Pseudoarchaeology
Pseudohistory
Pseudoscience
Pyramidology
Silbury Hill

References[edit]
1. ^ a b c [1] Colin Woodard, December 2009, "The Pyramid Man", Smithsonian 40:9

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosnian_pyramids 5/9
7/6/13 Bosnian pyramids - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2. ^ Pyramid No More, Sub Rosa, Issue 6, Oct 2006.

3. ^ a b The great Bosnian pyramid scheme by Anthony Harding, British Archaeology
November/December 2006
4. ^ John Bohannon, Mad About Pyramids, Science Magazine, 22 September 2006.
5. ^ a b Declaration from the European Association of Archaeologists, 11 Dec 2006
6. ^ http://irna.lautre.net/IMG/pdf/file.pdf
7. ^ http://icbp.ba/2008/documents/reports/dr%20Swelim%20report%20February%202008.doc
8. ^ Australian in Bosnia pyramid riddle, Sydney Morning Herald, 20 January 2006
9. ^ a b Mark Rose, Bosnian "Pyramids" Update, Archaeology Magazine Online, 14 June 2006
10. ^ Osmanagic: Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun Candidate for “Mother” of all Pyramids, FENA News, 20
April 2005
11. ^ a b Osmanagić, Semir (July 2006). "Energijsko središče sveta?" [The energy center of the world] (in
Slovenian). Misteriji. p. 5. Archived from the original on 2009-05-08. Retrieved 2009-11-20. "Mi
razbijamo negativni energijski oblak. To mora biti narejeno pred letom 2012, da bi lahko sprejeli
zgodovinski vpliv vesoljne energije iz koz- mičnega centra naše galaksi- je."
12. ^ 5-year Plan of Research on Visoko’s Visocica 1 Jan 2006 – 31 Dec 2010, Archaeological Park:
Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun Foundation. Accessed 13 July 2006.
13. ^ Major victory in bid to uncover potential remains of a lost civilisation, Balkans Business News, 19
January 2012
14. ^ Rose, Mark. "The Bosnia-Atlantis Connection". Archaeology Magazine Online. URL accessed
2006-04-29.
15. ^ Anthony Harding, Bosnia's rich heritage, Times Online, 25 April 2006
16. ^ "Vrabac: Visočica je prirodna geološka tvorevina" (in Bosnian). FEMA News Agency. 2006-05-
08.
17. ^ a b Sejfudin Vrabac et al. (2006-04-17). "Izvještaj o geološkim istraživanjima Visočice kod
Visokog" (in Bosnian). Mining, Geology and Civil Engineering Faculty of University of Tuzla.
18. ^ Bosnian 'pyramid' created by nature, say European experts, AFP, June 12, 2006.
19. ^ http://www.sciencemag.org/content/329/5993/804.short
20. ^ Letter to Archaeology Magazine (PDF)
21. ^ Aida Cerkez-Robinson British Expert Nixes Bosnia Pyramid Claim, ABC News
22. ^ At last, Dr. Barakat’s report, 8 May 2006
23. ^ The Bosnian Pyramid Phenomenon, The New Archaeology Review vol 1.8, pp 16-17, September
2006
24. ^ Articles by Dr. Schoch & Dr. Dowell
25. ^ "Dr. Swelim: Bosnian Pyramid Of The Sun Is The World’S Largest". July 2007. Retrieved 19
March 2011.
26. ^ Swelim, Nabil (2007-09-17). "The pyramid hills". Archeology. Retrieved 2011-04-11.
27. ^ Swelim, Nabil Mohamed Abdel. "VISOCICA ON THE BALANCE". Retrieved 19 March 2011.
28. ^ a b European Association of Archaeologists statement
29. ^ Nick Hawton, Indiana Jones of the Balkans and the mystery of a hidden pyramid, Times
Online, 15 April 2006
30. ^ Lucian Harris, Amateur to dig on site of medieval capital in search of Bosnia's own Valley of
the Kings, The Art Newspaper, 15 April 2006
31. ^ Archaeologists find medieval artefacts on Mt. Visocica, disparage pyramid seeker[2]
32. ^ Swelim, Nabil Mohamed Abdel. "VISOCICA ON THE BALANCE". Retrieved 19 March 2011.

External links[edit]
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosnian_pyramids 6/9
7/6/13 Bosnian pyramids - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Alleged Bosnian pyramids

Bosnian pyramid location: 1 2 – Google maps

Archaeological Park: Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun Foundation – Foundation created by Osmanagic to
promote his interpretations (Bosnian)/(English)
Bosanska Piramida Sunca – Osmanagic's book on the subject (Bosnian)
Bosnian pyramids skeptical analysis
Old Visoki fort, Bosnian National Monument
Geology of the Bosnian "pyramids"
The Bosnia-Atlantis Connection – from Archaeology magazine 27 April 2006
Bosnian Pyramids: Absence of Evidence is not Evidence of Atlantis 29 May 2006
Dr. Hawass' Letter Concerning Bosnian "Pyramids" 27 June 2006
More on Bosnian "Pyramids" by Mark Rose 27 June 2006
John Bohannon, "Mad About Pyramids" 22 September 2006
"Tourists flock to Bosnian hills but experts mock amateur archaeologist's pyramid claims" 5 October
2006
The Mystery of Bosnia's Ancient Pyramids Smithsonian.com December 2009

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bosnian_pyramids&oldid=562493871"

Categories:

Buildings and structures in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Pseudoarchaeology
Archaeological forgeries
Pseudohistory

Hidden categories:

All articles with unsourced statements

Articles with unsourced statements from May 2013
Commons category with local link same as on Wikidata
Articles with Bosnian-language external links

Navigation menu
Personal tools

Create account
Log in

Namespaces

Article
Talk

Variants

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosnian_pyramids 7/9
7/6/13 Bosnian pyramids - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Views

Read
Edit
View history

Actions

Search

Search

Navigation

Main page
Contents
Featured content
Current events
Random article
Donate to Wikipedia

Interaction

Help
About Wikipedia
Community portal
Recent changes
Contact Wikipedia

Toolbox

What links here

Related changes
Upload file
Special pages
Permanent link
Page information
Cite this page

Print/export

Create a book
Download as PDF
Printable version

Languages

Български
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosnian_pyramids 8/9
7/6/13 Bosnian pyramids - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bosanski
Deutsch
Español
Français
Hrvatski
Italiano
‫עברית‬
Lietuvių
Magyar
Македонски
Nederlands
Norsk bokmål
Polski
Română
Русский
Slovenščina
Српски / srpski
Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски
Suomi
Svenska
Türkçe
Tiếng Việt
中文

Edit links

This page was last modified on 2 July 2013 at 04:08.

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may
apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.

Privacy policy
About Wikipedia
Disclaimers
Contact Wikipedia
Mobile view

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosnian_pyramids 9/9