The Bosnian Valley of Pyramids

Location

• The pyramids are located northwest of Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The formations overlook the historic town of Visoko.

Formations

• The largest of the so-called pyramids is Visocica hill. This formation, called the Pyramid of the Sun by some archaeologists, reaches a height of approximately 700 feet. A cluster of smaller formations surround this larger feature, most notably the Pyramid of the Moon and the Pyramid of the Dragon.

Man-Made Claims

• In April 2006, a Bosnian author and metalworker named Semir Osmanagic began a dig at the site. Osmanagic claimed that the pyramids were man-made and set out to prove his theory. His extensive studies obtained evidence that supposedly established the Bosnian pyramids as the oldest man-made pyramids on earth. His claims were readily accepted by many Bosnian authorities, especially those with links to tourism.

Global Reaction

• The research carried out by Osmanagic provoked heated reaction from the global archeological community, many of whom argued that the pyramids were nothing more than natural formations. The European Association of Archaeologists put forward an official protest in December 2006. This declaration made their professional opinion very clear: "This scheme is a cruel hoax on an unsuspecting public and has no place in the world of genuine science."