Europe's first pyramid?

Europe's first pyramid?

Bosnia's leading Muslim daily Dnevni Avaz writes excitedly about "a sensational discovery" of "the first European pyramid" in the central town of Visoko, just north of Sarajevo.

Excavations at a hill site above the town have been going on for several months and initial analyses "have confirmed the original claim that this is Europe's first pyramid and a monumental building, similar in dimensions to the Egyptian pyramids."

"The pyramid is 100 metres high and there is evidence that it contains rooms and a monumental causeway ... The plateau is built of stone blocks, which indicates the presence at the time of a highly developed civilisation," the daily explains.

"Archaeological excavations near the surface have uncovered a part of a wall and fragments of steps," it reveals.

"Visocica hill could not have been shaped like this by nature," geologist Nada Nukic tells the daily. "This is already far too more than we have anticipated, but we expect a lot more from further analysis," she concludes.

Bosnian explorer finds 'Europe's first pyramids'

VISOCICA HILL, Bosnia-Hercegovina –– Bosnian explorer Semir Osmanagic is convinced he has found Europe's first pyramids which he says are a new world wonder dating back to ancient times.

"I was amazed when I first saw them. I'm deeply convinced now that this is the work of an ancient civilisation built many thousands of years ago," he said while observing an area he excavated north of Sarajevo.

The 45-year-old is so certain two pyramids are hidden in Visoko valley that he has spent some 16,000 euros (20,000 dollars) researching the area, located either side of a river about 30 kilometres (18 miles) from the Bosnian capital.

Residents of the nearby town of Visoko have long known about the presence of the two structures they always referred to as 'pyramids' but none of them was ever intrigued enough to investigate further.

But Osmanagic, who says he sharpened his eye for archaeology on numerous trips around the world to study ancient civilisations, insists the structures "cannot be the art of nature".

The self-styled explorer with an Indiana Jones-like hat and clothes began his Bosnian pyramid crusade in April this year after visiting the remnants of a medieval royal palace at the top of the hill.

Osmanagic, a businessman and author of several books on other civilizations, says the two "constructions" are precisely aligned with the compass to the four corners of the world. He says he sees astonishing similarities between them and Mexican pyramids dating back to about 200 AD, which also come in pairs, one representing the sun and the other the moon. This is why he calls Visocica hill "The Bosnian pyramid of the sun".

Osmanagic says he believes builders from an unknown civilisation shaped the hill into a 'step pyramid' then coated it with a kind of primitive concrete.

The structure now stands some 70 metres (230 feet) high, with a square base that is 220 by 220 metres (730 by 730 feet).

After conducting initial probes about 17 metres (56 feet) into the earth that revealed "numerous anomalies in the soil," Osmanagic says he returned to the site with a team of people to start his initial excavation work.

Nadja Nukic, a geologist at the site, said she was most puzzled by three layers of brown polished stone that lie an equal distance from each other underground.

The team began excavating a few spots at the site this week, with the work expected to be completed in two weeks. They hope to be able to uncover one of the pyramid steps and larger pieces the mysterious brown stone for further analysis. –– AFP

Wow, thats very interesting. I never even knew there were European pyramids.

I am curious about if they will dig something up. Keep us updated please.

hmm, so where is the cuty this was found at? if it was in estern europe it coulda been a celtic monument?...