Funding withdrawn from Bosnian pyramid

[UM-Bot]

The hills in Visoko are a natural formation and not pyramids, as Semir Osmanagic wishes to present them, says Bosnian Culture Minister. The Ministry of Culture of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina wants to put an end to the funding of the project “Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun.

View: Full Article | Source: Javno

[mostar56]

The hills in Visoko are a natural formation and not pyramids, as Semir Osmanagic wishes to present them, says Bosnian Culture Minister. The Ministry of Culture of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina wants to put an end to the funding of the project “Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun.†Opinions on the subject as well as on the pyramid phenomenon are so divided in Bosnia that some public persons, who have denied the existence of pyramids, said that they would set themselves on fire if those were really proven to pyramids. Numerous politicans have given support to the research in Visoko, formerly a royal town. Experts have protested and the people find all this interesting. However, Culture Minister Gavrilo Grahovac decided to shut down the source of funding, at least this one, because this was not a serious archaeological research. The credibility of the people who collaborated on the project was “unreliable†and they have published their findings that were kept away from the experts.

The scientific research team has proved that the hill Visocica is a natural geological formation and its relief is the consequence of natural tectonic movement. The present appearance of Visocica is the result of structural factors and climate changes at work. By acting on its own initiative, the foundation does not act in keeping with the existing regulations of archaeology, in spite of being registered at the B-H Justice Ministry, and its registration itself ought to be looked into.

View: Full Article | Source: Javno

Government is not funding these excavations, last year they gave 10%, this year even less I think.

Minister for Culture and Sport is not in power to stop this project, he only telling his opinion, that’s a normal thing in Bosnia. People always want to know other peoples business and judge other peoples (culture thing, issue). Minister Grahovac (Serb) trying to bully other people to boycott excavations. Only what I can say is, you need to come to see and judge by yourself, Why this people are against I'm not clear (no comment) as many other thing in my country. We were killing each other because we don’t like each other. If someone is doing such big project people's are against it ('tamni vilajet', [dark country] Bosnia is used to be known, Middle Ages). They don’t have any single evidence to stop it, it’s all private interest. This is massive project and people are jealous that one man can do all this, to create such a mega project while on other hand 'official' archaeology can not do that and now they want to blame Mr Osmanagic for everything they cant do (it's easy to blame him). People in Bosnia will need to come clear with this, which way to go and this will happen, soon, no one have any rights to bully you to do things. Mr Osmanagic is genuine person. Time will show that. Last month Visoko had 40 000 visitors and everybody is sure that hills are not natural.

To stop excavations they 'offical' archaeology changed a law in Bosnia , just because of Mr Osmanagic to stop him work.

Last year amending the law and increasing the protected zones on the Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun 98 times and making excavations on the pyramid impossible. One area used to be protected and is enlarged 98 times.

Edited June 14, 2007 by mostar56

[:PsYKoTiC:BeHAvIoR:]

Wow, somebody is jumping to conclusions quickly. Sounds like there's something hidden that someone doesn't want to be found?

[STIX]

Whats hidden is the HOAX!! This is a big load of garbage, similar to how certain peolpe in India will claim to have levitation abilities or that there is a boy who is the reincarnation of Buddah... its all done for tourism and the local economy does prosper because of it. The "stones" they excavated are a naturally occuring cement-like mixture.

Bosnia does have some legitamite phenomea such as giant stone balls similar to those found in mexico... although there is no certainty to their origins. http://www.bosnianpyramid.com/Archive_file...StoneBalls.html

[Blizno]

Whats hidden is the HOAX!! This is a big load of garbage, similar to how certain peolpe in India will claim to have levitation abilities or that there is a boy who is the reincarnation of Buddah... its all done for tourism and the local economy does prosper because of it. The "stones" they excavated are a naturally occuring cement-like mixture.

Bosnia does have some legitamite phenomea such as giant stone balls similar to those found in mexico... although there is no certainty to their origins.

Agreed. The "pyramid" stones have a very slight resemblance to human-cut stones (if you REALLY use your imagination), but there's not the slightest real evidence that they are not perfectly natural. A few people are trying with all their might to bilk money from beleaguered governments that already have plenty of real business to take care of.

Here's a hint to the east-European scammers. Come to the USA. There are vast numbers of fools eager to have their money pulled from their pockets. Leave nations that are trying to rebuild alone until they get fat and happy again, and then you can go back to robbing them.

Edited June 15, 2007 by blizno

[louie]

Whats hidden is the HOAX!! This is a big load of garbage, similar to how certain peolpe in India will claim to have levitation abilities or that there is a boy who is the reincarnation of Buddah... its all done for tourism and the local economy does prosper because of it. The "stones" they excavated are a naturally occuring cement-like mixture.

Bosnia does have some legitamite phenomea such as giant stone balls similar to those found in mexico... although there is no certainty to their origins. http://www.bosnianpyramid.com/Archive_file...StoneBalls.html

And where is your undeniable proof that this is a hoax. how do you know something the rest of the world does not know.

[Blizno]

And where is your undeniable proof that this is a hoax. how do you know something the rest of the world does not know.

It doesn't work that way. The person making the wild claim is the one who has to prove it.

[Pax Unum]

Personally, I’m glad to see the government stop funding this, I'd like to see them finally step in and put a stop to this folly...

Semir Osmanagić's claims, widely reported in the mass media, have been challenged by a number of experts, who have accused him of promoting pseudo-scientific notions and damaging archaeological sites with his excavations. Penn State University Professor Garrett Fagan 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."[15]

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."[16]

Enver Imamovic 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".[17]

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".[18] 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."[19]

According to one source, on May 8, 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[20] at the University of Tuzla[21] and led by Professor Dr. Sejfudin Vrabac,[22] concluded that the hill is a natural geological formation, made of classic sediments of layered composition and varying thickness, and that its shape is a consequence of endodynamical and egsodynamical processes in post-Miocene era.

According to Professor Vrabac, who specializes in paleogeology, there are dozens of like 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.[23]

In June 2006, Zahi Hawass's name became linked to the excavations[24] as recommending an expert, Aly Abd Alla Barakat, to investigate the hills. Upon being contacted Hawass denied any involvement, accusing Osmanagić of "giving out false information".[25]

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."[26][27] So far no report has appeared from the foundation confirming this. Osmanagić also invited geologist and alternative archaeologist Robert Schoch to visit the site. In a preliminary report he 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.[28]

The foundation has described such comments as "ill-intentioned" referring to "irrelevant and completely incorrect facts".[29] In return Dr 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."[30]

Edited June 16, 2007 by Pax Unum

[louie]

It doesn't work that way. The person making the wild claim is the one who has to prove it.

Nope if the person is saying determedly its a hoax, he should have some proof as to why its a hoax, did that person go and singly handly dig up the mountain see there was nothing, then put the mountainside back, then proclaim to the world it is all a hoax, no he did not therefore have some proof as to why he said it. at least those working there are trying to find something, not just sitting back and passing judgement.

The government only gave 10% of funding so pulling out wont make too much of a diffrence to the dig.

At least they are trying to look for something, while most people just sit in front of thier tv an pc, watching thier lives tick by.

[Shaftsbury]

As one of those armchair archaelologists, I can say that nothing I have seen in pictures of print coming from the area has convinced me the pyramid is anything else but a natural phenomenon. Where are the tool marks? The tools? The garbage left behind by the builders? You can't build a pyramid without leaving at least some trace, humans are messy.

The unfortunate thing in this whole excavation, is that they seem to be ignoring the true archaeological treasures or at least giving them secondary prominance. If they are looking for tourist attractions they have already found them, if not they really need to rethink why they are there.

Now how do I change the channel on this thing? *click *click

[Gatofeo]

Damn!

You mean I wasted $400 by buying that authentic Crystal Headband of the Ancient Bosnian Pyramid?

And what about the Wisdom of the Ancients Blue Power Stick I bought for $200?

So it was a hoax, huh?

Hmmmm ... um ... anyone wanna buy a crystal headband and a stick ... at slight discount?