Bosnian pyramids
The Bosnian pyramids are a bunch of hills in Bosnia and Herzegovina that rose to international notoriety after Semir Osmanagić, a Bosnian businessman who runs a company in Texas, proclaimed them to be man-made pyramids. Much to the dismay of the international archaeological community, he enjoys some support by Bosnian government who gave him permission to excavate the site and partially funded the "expedition."
The main claim is about the 213-metre (699 ft) Visočica hill, near the town of Visoko (various maps and satellite imagery), which according to Osmanagić is a buried pyramid, "The Pyramid of the Sun." Other nearby hills are "Pyramid of the Moon" and "Pyramid of the (Bosnian) Dragon." The so-called "pyramids" are in fact the product of tectonic uplift. Furthermore, Osmanagić used a backhoe for part of the excavation, conveniently shaping the earth into a more pyramid-like appearance (and simultaneously undertaking one of the least professional archaeological excavations ever).
[edit] Political reaction
"These are the pioneer steps which can turn the wheel of history in some other direction" —Semiha Borovac, mayor of Sarajevo while visiting the site.
[edit] External links
- Archaeological Park: Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun Foundation
- http://www.bosnianpyramid.com (another "official" website?)
- Semir Osmanagić's website (note the Indiana Jones pose :))
- Dig for ancient pyramid in Bosnia, BBC News, 15 April 2006
[edit] Mainstream
- The great Bosnian pyramid scheme, Anthony Harding, British Archaeology, Issue 92, January/February 2007
- Mad About Pyramids (1MB PDF), John Bohannon, Science Magazine, 22 September 2006
- More on Bosnian "Pyramids", Mark Rose, Archaeology, Jun. 27 2006
- Bosnian Pyramids: Absence of Evidence is Not Evidence of Atlantis, Alun Salt
- The Bosnian Pyramid: A Brief Summary, A Hot Cup of Joe