Were ancient civilizations using pyramids as a form of GPS technology?

  • Thread starter Thread starter quantumcarl
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers on the discovery of a 720 ft high step pyramid in Visoko, Bosnia-Herzegovina, proposed by Semir Osmanagic as an ancient man-made structure potentially serving as a form of GPS technology. The excavation project, initiated on April 14, 2006, aims to uncover the truth behind this claim, supported by satellite imaging and the existence of associated smaller pyramids and tunnels. However, skepticism remains regarding the authenticity of the findings, with critics questioning the evidence and the credibility of Osmanagic's conclusions.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of archaeological excavation techniques
  • Familiarity with satellite imaging technology
  • Knowledge of ancient civilizations and their architectural practices
  • Awareness of the historical context of Bosnia-Herzegovina
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the methodologies used in archaeological excavations
  • Explore the implications of satellite imaging in modern archaeology
  • Investigate the history of pyramid structures across different cultures
  • Examine the archaeological significance of the Visoko site and its findings
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for archaeologists, historians, and enthusiasts interested in ancient civilizations, as well as those exploring the intersection of archaeology and modern technology.

  • #121
Tojen said:
For the record, Collette Dowell visited Visoko and came away an unbeliever. A few excerpts from her blog show a concern for the volunteers at the site who really believe they are changing the world...

Dr.s Dowell and her geologist husband are apparently not accepted as valid eye witenesses in this thread since the account they gave and that I posted here was erased soon after. Believer or not, nothing has changed with regard to the authenticity of the Bosnian Pyramid claims. Its still "up in the air"!
 
Science news on Phys.org
  • #122
nannoh said:
Dr.s Dowell and her geologist husband are apparently not accepted as valid eye witenesses in this thread since the account they gave and that I posted here was erased soon after. Believer or not, nothing has changed with regard to the authenticity of the Bosnian Pyramid claims. Its still "up in the air"!
No, your post was deleted because it had no merit, no scientific comment, it was nothing more than "Hi everyone, just got here, looking around, nothing to report yet, etc..

Now they have something to report.

Thread closed until some Earth shattering new evidence is confirmed.
 
  • #123
I have agreed to re-open this thread and allow Dr Mensur Omerbashich post his new information here. I haven't finished reading through his link, but now I know what I will be doing tonight.
 
  • #124
A new angle of looking at "Bosnian pyramids": man-shaped hills

Hello everyone,

It’s the first anniversary of this thread's (first) closedown. In the meantime, I've gathered some information at http://omerbashich.blogspot.com/ . Evo was very kind to reopen the thread -- thanks! I'm not sure that my (new) angle of looking at the story will be Earth shattering, but it could be mind shattering (for some at least).

For the record: I’m not doing self-promotion here, I just got fed up with all this budget-eating soup-opera that goes on and on...and on...and has just gained new momentum.

Input in general would be welcome. I think that a healthy and open discussion with the facts and indications as I assembled them (after more than one year of intensive digs and reports) could only help us all to filter/digest all the "Bosnian Pyramids" information that’s out there.

Mensur Omerbashich
 
  • #125
It would be nice to have some dates or chronology with respect to the formation/construction of said pyrmaids, and a correlation with the culture of the time.

I've seen mention of 12,000 years ago, which seems awfully early for structures such as pyramids. This is the Meolithic period - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesolithic - Epipaleolithic period - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epipalaeolithic.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic_Europe
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_Ceramic_culture

Then there is the Vinča culture, "an early culture of Europe (between the 6th and the 3rd millennium BC), stretching around the course of Danube in Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, and the Republic of Macedonia, although traces of it can be found all around the Balkans, parts of Central Europe and Asia Minor."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinča_culture

I'm just trying to get perspective on the Neolitic cultures in Europe
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic#Europe
In southeast Europe agrarian societies first appeared by ca. 7000 BC, and in Central Europe by ca. 5500 BC. Among the earliest cultural complexes of this area are included the Starčevo-Körös (Cris), Linearbandkeramic, and Vinča. Through a combination of cultural diffusion and migration of peoples, the Neolithic traditions spread west and northwards to reach northwestern Europe by around 4500 BC.

One has to ask, do such structures exist in other areas which also had settlements in Neolithic times.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic#Technology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic_Europe#List_of_cultures_and_sites

Another reference - http://www.eliznik.org.uk/EastEurope/History/index.htm
http://www.eliznik.org.uk/EastEurope/History/history-pre.htm

Then what about later cultures?
Bronze age?
 
  • #126
The whole area (valley) is very rich in terms of archaeological finds. There are teams of German, British and other leading archaeologists working around the clock at various sites in Bosnia. Germans are working nearby Visocica, on some exquisite Neolith sites. But you don't hear that in media. As far as I know, these real archaeologists are not funded by Bosnian authorities, but by their respective institutions/governments grants only.

I can testify on this archeological richness: I remember when I was a kid growing up even in the urban parts of Sarajevo, that we used to find things by pure chance, such as stone-made spear arrows and such. We would take them to the nearby museum and they accepted them. There are lots of human traces to be found around Bosnia and you don't even have to dig deep for those, a few decimetres perhaps. From what I heard, this German team was digging less than half a metre when wonderful finds showed up.

The thing is, there is enough knowledge on those periods in this part of Europe that any ideas of pre-Stone Age (10,000 yr) civilizations can be safely ruled out, I'd say at 99%. There were some tribes here and there of course, from the early Stone Age going back for 100s kyr, but traces of a civilization would have been remarkably spread and not so hard to find, one would think.
 
  • #127
The Balkans are certainly rich in history and archeology.

I am familiar various sites in Bulgaria, e.g. Starosel, Kazanluk, Sveshtari, . . . .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starosel (finds back to 5-6 millennium BC, but tomb is from ~ 4th or 5th cent BC)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thracian_Tomb_of_Kazanlak (4th century BC)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thracian_Tomb_of_Sveshtari (3rd century BC)
http://www.bgtravel.com/bulgaria-treasutes.asp

It is not out of the realm of possiblity that a pyramid-type structure was constructed in Bosnia. Perhaps it is an example of a tumuli, or related structure.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumulus

On the other hand, perhaps it is a natural hill that has been augmented by humans.

I think the questions are when was the structure in question built, and are theories as to what it is consistent with the cultures at the time of construction and since.

I'll drop this here since I don't know where else to put it and it might be somewhat relevant.
http://www.cimec.ro/arheologie/livingpast/nr1/boroneant/mesolithic.htm#schela
The Mesolithic Habitation Complexes in the Balkans and the Danube Basin
 
Last edited:
  • #128
Astronuc said:
The Balkans are certainly rich in history and archeology.

I am familiar various sites in Bulgaria, e.g. Starosel, Kazanluk, Sveshtari, . . . .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starosel (finds back to 5-6 millennium BC, but tomb is from ~ 4th or 5th cent BC)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thracian_Tomb_of_Kazanlak (4th century BC)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thracian_Tomb_of_Sveshtari (3rd century BC)
http://www.bgtravel.com/bulgaria-treasutes.asp

It is not out of the realm of possiblity that a pyramid-type structure was constructed in Bosnia. Perhaps it is an example of a tumuli, or related structure.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumulus

On the other hand, perhaps it is a natural hill that has been augmented by humans.

I think the questions are when was the structure in question built, and are theories as to what it is consistent with the cultures at the time of construction and since.

I'll drop this here since I don't know where else to put it and it might be somewhat relevant.
http://www.cimec.ro/arheologie/livingpast/nr1/boroneant/mesolithic.htm#schela
The Mesolithic Habitation Complexes in the Balkans and the Danube Basin

That is very interesting, thanks for the links.

The problem with the tumulus explanation is that tumuli seem rather too small compared to Visocica (etymologically even: tumulus means a small hill in Latin, according to the link you provided). Besides, I don't think it's quite common to find forts and towns built on top of tumuli as those were rather sacred places (burials). Therefore I think a shaped hill explanation is far more plausible.
 
  • #129
omerbashich said:
That is very interesting, thanks for the links.
You are most welcome.

The problem with the tumulus explanation is that tumuli seem rather too small compared to Visocica (etymologically even: tumulus means a small hill in Latin, according to the link you provided). Besides, I don't think it's quite common to find forts and towns built on top of tumuli as those were rather sacred places (burials). Therefore I think a shaped hill explanation is far more plausible.
I would agree about not building a fort or town on a burial place, unless it was much later (e.g. centuries or millenia later), what with erosion.

I think hills become forts/towns or burial places, but not both in the same location. On the other hand, I am also thinking of the technology/architecture which implies both a capability and propensity to construct a pyramidal structure.

I would imagine that burial sites would even be considered haunted in some cases - e.g. barrow wights or wraiths.

I would agree that a shaped or augmented hill is more plausible.