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primitive concrete. But in November 2005, after larger areas were unearthed, the team concluded that the whole hill is actually a stone structure—a conclusion that has since been confirmed by satellite and thermal imagery. primitive concrete. But in November 2005, after larger areas were So who built these pyramids, and how old are they? unearthed, the team concluded that the whole hill is actually a | Osmanagich believes that the hills were reshaped by the Illyrian stone structure—a conclusion that has since been confirmed by people, who inhabited the Balkan Peninsula long before Slavic satellite and thermal imagery. tribes conquered it around AD 600. Little is known about the Illyrians, but Osmanagich thinks they were more sophisticated Excavating and dating the Bosnian pyramids than many experts have suggested—evidence for which would be Newspapers want conclusions, so Osmanagich had to provide an the pyramids themselves. interpretation of these structures, even though archaeological Osmanagich has unfortunately been misquoted about the excavations had only just begun. He speculates that the pyramids possible age of these pyramids as being 27,000 years. This is what come in a pair, one symbolising the Sun, the other the Moon. The = Osmanagich actually said: "It's very well known that a medieval Visocica hill has thus been labelled the "the Bosnian pyramid of — Bosnian town existed on the top of the hill between the 13th and the Sun". The "Bosnian pyramid of Moon" he believes to be under —-14th centuries. Artefacts that show traces of small Roman and the neighbouring hill of Pljesevica. Illyrian observation posts (2,000 and 2,500 years old, respectively) Osmanagich added in the interview: "Beside these two artificial have also been found. It is a classic example that a later culture structures, several other mounds exist in the same valley, and they _ built their villages on top of earlier structures. (The same example tend to have very geometric (triangular) sides and clear, linear —is seen in Cholula, Mexico, where Hernan Cortés built a huge breaks. Dr Amer Smailbegovich (Reno, Nevada) has applied church on the top of the hill. Three hundred years later, it turned remote sensing techniques that showed that the Bosnian pyramids out that the church was built on top of the largest pyramid in of the Sun and Moon exhibit flat, triangular sides with clear Mexico.) These findings show that it is more than 3,000 years old. geometric break-lines between the flat sides. The observed We know that Bosnia has continuously been populated for 27,000 phenomena are not to be confused with triangular facets naturally years. So, the pyramids must have been built in between these two occurring in a tectonic setting, for those occurrences only exhibit _— dates.". So the date could be anywhere between 1000 BC and single-side triangulation and are uneven in appearance, whereas = 25,000 BC, though Osmanagich personally favours the Illyrian the observed anomalies exhibit two or more, even triangular sides. period, thus providing a much more conservative date than that The results of thermal inertia [tests] suggest that the pyramids are quoted by the media. Considering the importance of the discovery, composed of less consolidated material and tend to cool fasterthan the original team has now established a foundation called the surrounding mounds (which are presumed to be denser). This Archaeological Park: Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun, which is finding is congruent with what would be expected from an sanctioned by the Bosnian Justice Department and already has a artificial structure—lesser density materials, porosity, internal number of Bosnian archaeologists, geologists, geophysicists, cavities all contribute to increased [heat] loss." historians and other experts amongst its members. These mounds which Osmanagich mentions are mutually "We are in the process of forming an international advisory equidistant and all align to the cardinal directions. The two — board and applying for grants and sponsorships. It is very pyramid structures and a third which could be a pyramid are of interesting that for the first time in a long period, Bosnian approximately the same height but differ in overall size. politicians on all political levels have united to give support for this Osmanagich believes that we can thus "freely talk about the project," said Osmanagich. Bosnian Valley of the Pyramids". Excavation, restoration and long-term protection of the site will recommence on 14 April 2006, after the winter snow. "Hundreds of experts and students, cleaning crews and enthusiasts will come to the middle of mountainous Bosnia to take part in a fantastic archaeological event," Osmanagich added. "We plan once again to work until the first snow comes at the end of October." And as such, Europe has truly entered the pyramid age... oo About the Author : Philip Coppens is editor-in-chief of Frontier Magazine and the author of The Canopus Revelation (reviewed in NEXUS 12/01) and The Stone Puzzle of Rosslyn Chapel (reviewed in 9/05). He has contributed articles to NEXUS three times: "The Treasure Trove of the Knights Templars" (with author André Douzet) (4/03), "The Strange Stone Discs of Balan- kara-ula" (3/01) and "China's Great Pyramid Controversy" (2/28). Philip can be contacted at PO Box Semir Osmanagich examines the Visococa pyramid hill's sandstone blocks during 13722, North Berwick, EH39 4WB, UK, preliminary investigations of the site in late 2005. and by email at info@philipcoppens.com. Excavating and dating the Bosnian pyramids Newspapers want conclusions, so Osmanagich had to provide an interpretation of these structures, even though archaeological excavations had only just begun. He speculates that the pyramids come in a pair, one symbolising the Sun, the other the Moon. The Visocica hill has thus been labelled the "the Bosnian pyramid of the Sun". The "Bosnian pyramid of Moon" he believes to be under the neighbouring hill of Pljesevica. Osmanagich added in the interview: "Beside these two artificial structures, several other mounds exist in the same valley, and they tend to have very geometric (triangular) sides and clear, linear breaks. Dr Amer Smailbegovich (Reno, Nevada) has applied remote sensing techniques that showed that the Bosnian pyramids of the Sun and Moon exhibit flat, triangular sides with clear geometric break-lines between the flat sides. The observed phenomena are not to be confused with triangular facets naturally occurring in a tectonic setting, for those occurrences only exhibit single-side triangulation and are uneven in appearance, whereas the observed anomalies exhibit two or more, even triangular sides. The results of thermal inertia [tests] suggest that the pyramids are composed of less consolidated material and tend to cool faster than the surrounding mounds (which are presumed to be denser). This finding is congruent with what would be expected from an artificial structure—lesser density materials, porosity, internal cavities all contribute to increased [heat] loss." These mounds which Osmanagich mentions are mutually equidistant and all align to the cardinal directions. The two pyramid structures and a third which could be a pyramid are of approximately the same height but differ in overall size. Osmanagich believes that we can thus "freely talk about the Bosnian Valley of the Pyramids". 62 = NEXUS APRIL — MAY 2006 www.nexusmagazine.com