The Bosnian Pyramid complex represents the largest, most active geoarchaeological site in the word. In 2020, as we begin a new decade, Dr Sam Osmanagich and The Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun Foundation is celebrating its 15th year since multidisciplinary investigations of the Bosnian Pyramids began. This year’s upcoming summer excavation season promises to be the most intense yet, with active archaeological excavations taking place across the pyramid valley, both above and below ground on the Bosnian Pyramids of Sun & Moon, Vratnica Tumulus, Ravne Tunnels, Ravne3 Tunnels and the newly discovered Ravne4 Tunnels. Independent researchers and volunteers from around the world will continue to assist with the excavations and ongoing research.

In 2005, Bosnian born anthropologist Dr Sam Osmanagich announced to the world’s media his discovery, that a group of hills in the vicinity of Visoko, a small town in central Bosnia, were not hills at all but were in fact buried and forgotten Pyramids of both monumental size and extreme age. The Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun, the largest of the Bosnian Pyramids, is estimated to be at least 300m tall. The Bosnian Pyramid of the Moon, though smaller at 190m tall, is still over 50m taller than the Great Pyramid of Giza. The response to his announcement was mixed, with equal amounts of excitement from those enthusiastic to esoteric ideas regarding the world’s ancient pyramids, scepticism from many, including the local Bosnian population and, despite lack of any proper scientific investigation on their part, outright condemnation from academic circles intent on maintaining a crumbling paradigm.

When Dr Osmanagich first made his statement to the world press his pyramid hypothesis was based initially on several direct observations;

i)               That a number of hills in the area local to Visoko were four sided with triangular faces.

ii)              The corners and slope angle of the triangular faces were regular.

iii)             Like many other world pyramids and megalithic sites, the faces of these ‘hills’ were almost perfectly orientated towards the cardinal points, North, South, East, West.

iv)             The spatial arrangement of three of the largest pyramidal ‘hills’ (Sun, Moon & Dragon Pyramids) formed a near perfect equilateral triangle between their peaks.

v)              The relative position and heights of the Sun and Moon Pyramids cause a shadow to be cast that marks the beginning of summer (Solstice) and the transition through to midsummer.

Automated Linear-Anomaly Detector satellite imagery highlighting corner break angles of 45°, Sun Pyramid.

 

Topographic map of the Bosnian Pyramid Valley showing the peaks of Sun (northwest), Moon (east) and Dragon pyramids (south) forming an equilateral triangle.

 

Photos show interaction between the shadow cast by the Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun upon the Bosnian Pyramid of the Moon. Image left shows shadow on summer solstice matching height of Moon Pyramid which by midsummer moves to totally cover the pyramid (right).

 

With these direct observations made by Dr Osmanagich were also the countless anecdotal stories told to him by the local population. The older generations would speak of how they used to play as children in underground tunnels all around Visoko, tunnels that later had their entrances sealed by authority during the time of Yugoslavia. Local mythology also spoke of how the Medieval ruler, Queen Katarina, who once resided within a small fortress at the top of the Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun, used tunnels to escape from advancing aggressors that were heading towards her position. According to the legend, Queen Katarina was able to enter passages leading from the top of the pyramid and slip past an advancing army, emerging somewhere within the lower valley and thus outflank her enemies. Those who remained living in the town of Visoko during the conflict of the 90s would also speak of how artillery fire that directly hit the surface of the buried Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun would cause the ‘hill’ to reverberate and produce an echo from within its interior. Knowing the association between subterranean passages, hollow spaces (chambers) and almost all known ancient pyramids around the world, Dr Osmanagich recognised the significance of these locally told stories and would soon set to work on rediscovering and thus confirming the existence of these underground tunnels.

Beginning in 2006, Dr Osmanagich would self-finance investigations of the Bosnian Pyramids in order to obtain empirical evidence to support his controversial pyramid hypothesis. Using satellites, geo-radar, seismic surveys and topographic analysis, a total of five principle sites were identified for initial investigation (Later named Pyramids Sun, Moon, Dragon, Love and Temple of Mother Earth). Archaeological trenches were excavated across all these principle sites and were overseen by Dr Osmanagich and other experts in the field of archaeology, geology and geophysics. As well as the surface excavations, core drilling was also conducted, with samples undergoing geochemical and material analysis by several specialized university departments internationally. Results suggested the material was an artificial conglomerate geopolymer and though it looked like natural stone it had dissimilar chemical and mechanical properties to the geological material found locally. Strength tests measured it to be considerably stronger than both the locally found conglomerates and even modern-day concrete. The evidence obtained supported Dr Osmanagich’s original hypothesis, that these hills under investigation were not just regular hills but were in fact either, at the very least, modified to look like pyramids or were completely built from the ground up, by a civilisation of great antiquity, unknown to the mainstream version accepted history, using methods of construction unknown to modern science. 

Prof. Dr Khavroshkin & Prof. Dr Tsyplakov from Schmidt Institute of Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, Moscow, conducted seismic surveys of the Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun and concluded its seismic response matched that of the measurements they had made during a similar survey at the Great Pyramid of Giza

 

Infrared satellite imagery used to calculate thermal inertia of the landscape detected anomalies where the pyramidal ‘hills’ were located (Sun, Moon, Dragon, Love). The presence of passages and hollow chambers would cause these ‘hills’ to warm up and cool down quicker than the surrounding landscape.

 

Archaeological excavations taking place on the northern face of the Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun reveal blocks composed of an artificial geopolymer stronger than most modern-day concretes.

 

Not long after the the initial phase of investigations began, Dr Osmanagich would find an opening to the underground tunnel network spoken of, which would later be named the ‘Ravne Tunnels’. An opening to these tunnels were located approximately 2.5km northwest of the Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun. At the time of discovery, the entranceway was known locally but was only suspected as being a small cave of no significant importance. Upon closer inspection, Dr Osmanagich realised at the rear of the cave was an infilled passage. Another entrance to the underground network was also found closer to the Pyramid of the Sun, near to the centre of Visoko town. This section of passages was named KTK tunnels, after the nearby factory that had been utilizing the passages for dumping of its waste materials, thus making sure no one would inadvertently discover the true nature of this space, unintentionally or otherwise.

Digital render of the Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun in relation to excavated and explored sections of the Ravne Tunnels

 

In order to explore the passages at the Ravne Tunnels entrance, Dr Osmanagich began excavating the small cave. What was revealed was a shock to everyone, including the local historians. It was not simply the entrances to the tunnels that had been blocked up in more recent times, but seemingly the entire tunnel network, that is now known to run for thousands of metres, had been backfilled with loose rubble material, a painstaking task of such magnitude it almost seems implausible to imagine that it could have been undertaken without being noticed and recorded by the local populations if it had occurred within the recent historic ages. After only a few tens of metres of excavating, Dr Osmanagich had revealed multiple infilled passages heading in different directions, the junctions of which were marked by simple yet beautiful drywall constructions, clearly indicating that the passages cutting through the solid rock, and their subsequent blockage, was not the work of nature but was done so by intelligent and purposeful hands. As work continued and more of the tunnel network was emptied of rubble, enabling hundreds of metres worth of tunnels to be explored, further intriguing discoveries were made. The existence of chambers with multiple passages leading to them were identified, shaped stones with possible proto-runic language inscribed on them and large megalithic blocks clearly out of context with the surrounding geological material, now known as the Megaceramic blocks K1, K2 & K3 and the Egg-shaped Monolith, were found. Once again, all these discoveries continued to support the initial statements made by Dr Osmanagich in 2005 regarding his prehistoric Bosnian pyramid hypothesis.

Top left; Dr Sam Osmanagich inside the Ravne Tunnels pointing to infilled passage with drywall construction in front of it. Top right; One of over 50 drywalls identified within the Ravne Tunnels. Bottom left; Excavation and subsequent removal of rubble blocking the Ravne Tunnels. Bottom right; Megaceramic block K2, estimated to weigh over 8 tonnes.

 

Of course, none of these objective proofs brought to light by Dr Osmanagich were enough to convince the gatekeepers of the pre-existing historic paradigm. Authoritative critics of the project would make unfounded and somewhat preposterous accusations that Dr Osmanagich was shaping the hills to look like pyramids and that he was digging the tunnels himself (We presume at night-time in total darkness). The European Association of Archaeologists called the Bosnian Pyramid Project a ‘hoax on an unsuspecting public’ whilst the publication ‘British Archaeology’ called the Bosnian Pyramids a ‘Great Scheme’. Disgraced Egyptian Minister of Antiquities, Dr Zahi Hawass, also had to have his say, undoubtedly from fear of losing tourist revenue, saying that Dr Osmanagich was suffering from ‘hallucinations’ (all be it persistent ones?).  Slightly less preposterous was unfounded conjecture that the tunnels were the product of a Yugoslavian army training exercise. Non-experts in this field also illogically concluded that the tunnels were the remains of a medieval gold mine, despite the fact there is no gold, or ever was, any mineral of economic importance within the rock unit the Ravne Tunnels cuts through. Numerous websites and Wikipedia entries calling the Bosnian Pyramids a ‘pseudo-archaeological notion’ were set up to misinform the curious public, sometimes through omission, other times through deceit, spin and outright lies. It seemed that while there were plenty of people ready to attack Dr Osmanagich on a personal level, no one was arguing directly against Dr Osmanagich’s raised proofs in an objective, scientific manor on a fair playing field.

This disinformation campaign, though effective enough to keep the Bosnian Pyramids as a prohibited area of study in academic circles and turning away some famous researchers on the subject of alternative history for fear of risking their earnt and well deserved reputations, it has not stopped the work at the Bosnian Pyramid Valley from continuing and it has only strengthened the convictions of Dr Sam Osmanagich and his supporters.

Besides the controversies generated by the Bosnian Pyramid Project, there is of course one other thing that differentiates the research taking place in the Bosnian Pyramid Valley to that of any other archaeological project; It is the most open and transparent archaeological site in the world. Unlike in Egypt for example, where it is almost impossible for anyone outside the clique of Egyptology to undertake independent or even cooperative research freely, the Bosnian Pyramid Valley is open to everyone. Every year more and more independent researchers, volunteers, and visitors, who are unconvinced by what the ‘voice of authority’ has to say about the Bosnian Pyramids, come to see for themselves and assist with the ongoing research.

For example, since 2010, independent researchers have been coming to Visoko to investigate the electromagnetic and archaeoacoustic properties of the Bosnian Pyramids. Experts in their field from UK, Finland, Italy, Croatia and Serbia, each using different equipment and methodology, were all able to repeatedly detect and measure emissions being generated by the Bosnian Pyramids. Their investigations revealed that the Pyramid of the Sun produced both a focused and stable beam of resonating electromagnetic energy emanating from its peak, as well as accompanying diffusive sound at ultrasonic frequencies. Poly-interference photography commonly used to photograph biological energy fields was also utilized across the Bosnian Valley of the Pyramids. The PIP camera was able to show how the Bosnian pyramids manipulate the Earths naturally occurring EM-field. Imagery taken of nearby hills using the same technique showed a distinctly different EM-field pattern, clearly differentiating the energetic properties of the Bosnian pyramids from that of the natural local landforms.

Physicist Slobodan Mizdrak (left) and electrotechnical engineer Goran Marjanovic (centre) are two of several independent researchers who came to measure the electromagnetic and ultrasonic emissions emanating from the structures within the Bosnian Valley of the Pyramids.

 

Independent researcher Harry Oldfield utilized his PIP camera at the Bosnian Valley of the Pyramids. Photo left is a natural hill with horizontal energy-fields above it. Photo right is taken of the Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun. The Earths naturally occurring energy-fields have been turned almost 90 degrees.

 

But it is not just archaeologists, geologists, physicists and electrotechnical engineers who are invited to work on the Bosnian Pyramids. Since 2010, The Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun Foundation has been running a successful annual summer volunteer program. This initiative allows people from all backgrounds, professionals, non-professions, academics, scientists, enthusiasts, hobbyists, spiritualists, etc, trained or untrained in fieldwork, to participate in the archaeological excavations and research of the Bosnian Pyramids. Not only does this program bring much needed physical manpower to the pyramid valley for digging but, perhaps more importantly, it brings inquisitive and likeminded people together from around the world, from different backgrounds, towards a common goal; to reveal our shared forgotten/hidden ancestral past.

The volunteers who have already come to work in Visoko (over 3000 of them) have contributed in such a way that the Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun Foundation would undoubtedly not be where it is today, if it were not for their kindness, open-mindedness and effort that they have all given to the project willingly. For example, a recent landmark discovery, made largely in part by the assistance of volunteers during the 2018 summer camp, was so significant that for the first time since archaeological work began, the local municipal museum and its staff are now working in cooperation with the Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun Foundation. This partnership is a small but well-needed step in the development and acceptance of the research taking place within the Bosnian Pyramid Valley.

Groups of international volunteers during the summer 2018 excavation season working at the site now named ‘Ravne3’. A completely new section of tunnels was discovered, extending the known lateral extent of the complete Ravne Tunnel Network, and was found to be containing artefacts from several different historical periods.

 

Surface excavations undertaken by volunteers several hundred metres away from the known entranceway to the explored sections of the Ravne Tunnels revealed a completely new opening into the subterranean network. Like the tunnels before them, the entranceway had been blocked up with loose rubble and it was down to the volunteers to clear away this material. After two weeks of digging underground through the blocked passages, the volunteers revealed a large section of tunnels completely free of any loose blocking material and were able to explore the section unhindered. Chambers and connecting passages were discovered and by the following spring of 2019 it was found that the raised floor within the open section was rich in archaeological material. Over the course of the 2019 summer season volunteers would again assist in the archaeological work, recovering over 3000 individual finds from the Ravne3 Tunnels. Pottery fragments, tiles, jewellery, coins, tools and lithic artefacts were excavated. Typographic analysis conducted by archaeologists at the municipal museum indicated Neolithic, Roman and Medieval periods were represented by these finds. By the end of the summer, as it seemed volunteers had recovered all the artefacts left to be found within Ravne3, they made one last discovery of the season... two drywalls. By their form, material and context the drywalls matched those discovered previously By Dr Osmanagich within the original Ravne Tunnels, linking the creation of the two tunnel sections together and inferring each being part of one large subterranean network.

The work completed by volunteers by the end of the 2019 summer season allowed for a minimum age to be given to the Ravne3 Tunnels, using both relative and absolute dating methods. Stratigraphically, the drywalls were found below the cultural layers containing artefacts and radiometric dating of geological material dated the creation of the Ravne3 Tunnels to being at least 6000 years old, with the expectation it is older. In summary, the work conducted by the volunteers at Ravne3 categorically disproved any notion that the Yugoslavian army, medieval miners or Dr Sam himself, were responsible for the creation of the Ravne Tunnels Network.

Left; A passage connecting two chambers free of any blocking material within the Ravne3 Tunnels. Right; One of two drywalls found within the Ravne3 Tunnels. Like drywalls within the original Ravne Tunnels, this drywall marks the location of an infilled passage behind it.

 

 

Left; A medieval pot partially reconstructed from fragments excavated from within the Ravne3 Tunnels. Right; A bronze pendant connector with Romanised Celtic motif also recovered from the Ravne3 Tunnels.

 

 

For more information on the Ravne3 2018/19 excavations please see the Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun Foundations Geoarchaeological Summery Report; https://bit.ly/2QAMIvC

Volunteers needed for the 15th anniversary summer 2020 excavation season

The Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun Foundation is putting out a request for all those interested in the work being conducted within the Bosnian Valley of the Pyramids to assist with this year’s upcoming excavations. Work will be conducted on the surface of the Bosnian Pyramid of Sun and Moon and Vratnica Tumulus. Previous years excavations will be cleaned, refreshed and extended as well as new trenches being dug to reveal more of the artificial nature of the pyramids.

Despite the success of the previous two years, excavations within the Ravne3 Tunnels are still in their preliminary stages. The discovery of the two drywalls came at the end of the 2019 season and there is still one of two chambers yet to be fully excavated.  Within the second, unexcavated chamber there is still a huge potential to find more artefacts and drywalls within the open sections of the Ravne3 Tunnels. The two identified drywalls already discovered also confirms the presence of more infilled passages that will need to be emptied of their blocking material so they may be explored further.

The principle goal of the Ravne Tunnels excavations is to gain subterranean access into the Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun, which lies approximately 2.5km away from the Ravne Tunnels entrance. Due to the nature of the work, even with the help of energetic volunteers, the progress to reach this goal has so far been slow. Since 2006, there have been three instances where open sections within the Ravne Tunnel network, free from blocking material, have been found. Their presence substantially quickens the rate at which the Ravne Tunnels can be explored and so there is always the hope to find more of these empty passages as we excavate through the blocking rubble.

By complete chance, in winter of 2019 while landscaping and maintenance work was being conducted within the grounds of the Ravne Park Complex, workers of the foundation uncovered yet another opening into the Ravne Tunnels Network. This opening led to more tunnels free from blocking material and is the closest tunnel section to the Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun yet located. The discovery of the Ravne4 Tunnels has saved several years’ worth of excavations towards the Sun Pyramid and as such is now the Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun Foundations excavation priority for 2020. Besides the initial prospecting, work has barely begun at this newly identified location. It will be an extraordinary opportunity for all those who come to assist with the excavations this coming summer to be a part of this ground-breaking discovery. Numerous branching passages, chambers and drywalls have so far been observed inside the Ravne4 Tunnels, with several of these passages heading south, in the direction towards the Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun, the biggest and oldest pyramid in the world.

Ravne4 Tunnels upon initial entry; Top left; Small opening being enlarged to gain entry. Top right; The first chamber leads to several passages with one being free from blocking material. Bottom left; A drywall is identified, marking an infilled passage behind it. Bottom right; An open passage leads to a small chamber.

 

 

Ravne4 Prospection with Dr Sam Osmanagich and team

 

Volunteering on the Bosnian Pyramids: A Movie Short

 

For more information about the Bosnian Pyramid Volunteering program and how to apply please visit the official Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun Foundation webpage; https://bit.ly/2tgR0Py