Researchers Helpless as Bosnian Pyramid Bandwagon Gathers Pace

Abstract

ARCHAEOLOGY LONDON— An unusual soiree took place here at the Bosnian embassy last week. The star of the show, Semir Osmanagic, presented a slide show of his discovery of ancient pyramids northwest of Sarajevo and other evidence of what he calls a “supercivilization” that flourished in Bosnia 12,000 years ago—a time when most archaeologists believe small groups of hunter-gatherers were struggling to survive in a frozen Europe. He then posed for photographs in front of a pyramid-shaped cake baked in his honor. Osmanagic, a Bosnian businessman, has riled professional archaeologists who see his pyramid hypothesis as completely unfounded. Last week, the European Association of Archaeologists published an open letter to the Bosnian government calling Osmanagic's project “a cruel hoax on an unsuspecting public [which] has no place in the world of genuine science.” U.K. archaeologists are disturbed at the lack of criticism. “Support for this raft of nonsense has only increased,” says Richard Carlton, an archaeologist at the University of Newcastle, but “I have no idea what to do other than to continue to present reasonably argued opposition.” ![Figure][1] Half-baked. Semir Osmanagic poses with Bosnian ambassador to the U.K. Tanja Milasinovic. CREDIT: ELMA OKIC/HUNGRY EYE IMAGES Osmanagic declared last year that a series of pyramid-shaped hills near Visoko were structures built by a previously unknown Neolithic civilization, and he set up a foundation to excavate and exploit them. Bosnia's fragmented archaeological community is struggling to convince the public that the pyramids are simply natural features ( Science , 22 September, p. [1718][2]), but Osmanagic's influence and popularity have only grown. He is planning to expand his “archaeological park” scheme across the country to include newly discovered stone sphere “megaliths” and stone temples—both of which scientists say are just geology. He is currently in Malaysia meeting business leaders interested in funding the parks. Osmanagic began his lecture by saying that his excavation team includes an Oxford University archaeologist who “agrees that these are massive, manmade structures.” And after the embassy event, the Bosnian Pyramid Foundation Web site claimed that “Robert Harris, member of the British Parliament,” hailed “the significance of this discovery.” “There is no British parliamentarian called Robert Harris,” says Colin Renfrew, a member of the House of Lords, and the Oxford archaeologist is Alex Cartwright, an undergraduate student. “Mr. Cartwright does not have any expertise and in no way represents the university,” fumes Peter Mitchell, an Oxford archaeologist. In contrast to this academic turmoil, most conversations at the embassy gathering centered on the 200,000 tourists Osmanagic says have visited Visoko this year. [1]: pending:yes [2]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.313.5794.1718