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this civilisation had great expertise in creating bronze artefacts—a discovery that requires a radical re-dating of the Bronze Age. Of direct relevance is the fact that Vinca artefacts have been found in the town of Visoko, and it is therefore a strong possibility that Old Europe may also have been a pyramid-building culture. This conclusion might seem surprising and novel, but in essence it shouldn't be controversial. this civilisation had great expertise in creating bronze —_ been removed over a much bigger area to reveal a uniform, artefacts—a discovery that requires a radical re-dating of | cement-like (conglomerate) coating. This coating leaves the Bronze Age. little doubt in the eyes of the visitor that it is indeed man- Of direct relevance is the fact that Vinca artefacts have | made. However, none of the sceptics has ever referred to been found in the town of Visoko, and it is therefore a __ this section; instead, they've focused on the much smaller strong possibility that Old Europe may also have been a _and less interesting site nearby. pyramid-building culture. This conclusion might seem As mentioned, Egyptian geologist Dr Ali Barakat has surprising and novel, but in essence it shouldn't be concluded that these blocks are man-made. Moreover, controversial. laboratory analysis results from the Civil Engineering Institute of Tuzla, made public by geophysicist Dr Enes Investigating the pyramids' construction Ramovic in September 2006, have determined that the So, what is the Bosnian Valley of the Pyramids? The cement comprising these blocks had been poured in situ. Pyramid of the Sun, which dominates the skyline over In addition, a biology expert has maintained that the Visoko, has been the main focus of investigations. The — experiment of planting trees on the hill 40 years ago should structure does not merely look man-made, but with a height be deemed a failure, as the tree roots have not been able to of 220 metres it is much higher than the penetrate the conglomerate (cement) Great Pyramid of Giza and thus would layer. He argued that this suggests the be the tallest pyramid in the world. layer is man-made, as tree roots As is the case with the Great Pyramid, normally have no problem penetrating each side of the Visocica Pyramid of the natural rock. Sun is perfectly aligned with the Furthermore, with renewed interest in cardinal points. Indeed, as one The structure Visocica, the ancient Bosnian city on its approaches Visoko, it is hard to believe summit has recently been excavated. that it took until 2005 before someone does not merely look Here, it is clear that the layer of seriously pondered the notion that the 7 . conglomerate (cement) found lower hill could be a pyramid. In fact, in Wa made, but with down the slope goes all the way to the 1984, one local author, Pavao Andelic,| a height of 220 metres top. Inside the structure, holes had been referred to Visocica as a "town ae . dug so that posts could be erected, either pyramid", but nothing further was done it is much higher than for roofs or for a mezzanine type of to investigate the claim. | floor. The bottom of the Visocica the Great Pyramid The western side of the pyramid of Giza and thus would Pyramid has been built upon, and was partially excavated by the the streets of Visoko are extremely be the tallest pyramid Pyramid Foundation in 2006. in the world. steep. Most interestingly, Here, too, the team found large Osmanagic was told early on in his rectangular slabs just under the research that several home-owners surface, as well as clearly man- in Visoko had wanted to build made stone structures on the slope cellars but could not because of a of the plateau. The overall cement-like layer hidden impression is of a paved access approximately one metre below the plateau to the pyramid—a plateau surface. During the civil war of the which measures no less than 420 1990s, it was reported that the hill metres in length. resonated when hit by artillery fire: whereas artillery impact normally produced a sound that More pyramid discoveries lasted one to two seconds, when it hit the hill it created a Indeed, there is more than one pyramid here. So far, type of echo that lasted five to six seconds. It was clear possibly seven pyramids have been identified, though only that the hill had something unusual about it. two have been archaeologically explored. "Only" 190 The most visited excavation site, about one-third of the — metres high and situated lower in the valley is the Pyramid way up the hill, has revealed the presence of large blocks of the Moon. The foot of this pyramid has become a of conglomerate between 50 and 100 centimetres below the — second showcase of the Pyramid Foundation's work. Here, surface. Similar excavations have been conducted on the excavations show a type of "floor" lying on sandstone, other sides of the pyramid; in each case, a layer of this followed by a second layer in approximately one-metre- conglomerate has been found just below the surface. Ithas high steps. Nearby, the team probed the location where been suggested that the entire hill once had a six-metre- two faces of the pyramid meet and found a free-standing thick covering of conglomerate. stone structure. It is but one fortuitous discovery in a series Just next to the main "tourist" site, however, the surface of enigmatic findings. layer, comprising approximately 40-80 cm of sand, has Extensive excavations on the top of the Pyramid of the The structure the Great Pyramid of Giza and thus would be the tallest pyramid in the world. More pyramid discoveries Indeed, there is more than one pyramid here. So far, possibly seven pyramids have been identified, though only two have been archaeologically explored. "Only" 190 metres high and situated lower in the valley is the Pyramid of the Moon. The foot of this pyramid has become a second showcase of the Pyramid Foundation's work. Here, excavations show a type of "floor" lying on sandstone, followed by a second layer in approximately one-metre- high steps. Nearby, the team probed the location where two faces of the pyramid meet and found a free-standing stone structure. It is but one fortuitous discovery in a series of enigmatic findings. Extensive excavations on the top of the Pyramid of the NEXUS ¢ 57 does not merely look man-made, but with a height of 220 metres it is much higher than DECEMBER 2008 — JANUARY 2009 www.nexusmagazine.com