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All Bosnia and Herzegovina Visoko Visočia, the Bosnian Pyramid of Visoko

Visočia, the Bosnian Pyramid of Visoko

Controversial site of what could be Europe's first pyramid.

Visoko, Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Allison Eng
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The town of Visoko in 1973 with the “Pyramid of the Sun” in the background. (Wikimedia Commons)   http://www.wikipedia.org
The “Pyramid of the Sun.” (Wikimedia Commons)   http://www.wikipedia.org
The health bringing Visoko pyramid water   hrnick
One of many separator walls found during the digging   hrnick
  Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
  Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
  Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
Bosnian Pyramid Visočica   vasilisapremudra / Atlas Obscura User
Remains of a medieval town which was an early centre of the medieval Bosnian kingdom on Visočica Hill   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
A superoxide monolith acting as an oxygen source in the tunnels. Other monoliths have inscriptions   hrnick
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The "Bosnian pyramid" debate began on October 26, 2005, with an article in the Bosnian daily newspaper Dnevni Avaz, which was later translated to the BBC website. According to this article, there is in Bosnia, near the town of Visoko, a pyramid similar to the Egyptian ones, called by many, "Europe’s first pyramid."

In April 2006 excavations began on the site, led by a Houston-based metalworker, Semir Osmanagić, who claims that the structures were most likely constructed by the Illyrians, and that the pyramid was therefore built between 12,000 and 500 BCE. The "pyramid," at that moment, became a celebrity, received a name, Pyramid of the Sun, and began to multiply, as it is now talked about as the center of an entire "Valley of Pyramids."

According to Osmanagić, there are four other ancient structures in the valley: the Bosnian Pyramid of the Moon, “Bosanska Piramida Mjeseca;” Bosnian Pyramid of the Dragon, “Bosanska Piramida Zmaja;” Bosnian Pyramid of the Love, “Bosanska Piramida Ljubavi;” and Temple of the Earth, “Hram Zemlje.”

Archaeological discovery of the century? The experts say probably not. Where Osmanagić sees all the elements of a ceremonial megastructure--four perfectly shaped slopes pointing toward the cardinal points, a flat top and an entrance complex--professional archeologists see an angular mound and an overactive imagination. Osmanagić's critics accuse him of promoting pseudo-scientific notions and damaging a legitimate archaeological site--a medieval walled town sits atop the "pyramid"--with his excavations. Throughout all the negativity, Osmanagić remains determined to prove his case. The dig continues.

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Added By

AllisonEng

Edited By

hrnick, kostas1964ath, Jaszmina Szendrey, vasilisapremudra

  • hrnick
  • kostas1964ath
  • Jaszmina Szendrey
  • vasilisapremudra

Published

January 18, 2011

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Sources
  • Wikipedia: Bosnian Pyramids: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosnian_pyramids
  • Bosnian Pyramid News Blog: http://bpblognews.blogspot.com/
  • Archeology: "More on Bosnian Pyramids" (June 2006): http://www.archaeology.org/online/features/osmanagic/update.html
Visočia, the Bosnian Pyramid of Visoko
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Visoko
Bosnia and Herzegovina
43.978515, 18.177712
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