Pyramids. Our favorite topic! But today we’re not going to talk about the Egyptian ones, but about some that appeared in the heart of Europe, in a small Bosnian town called Visoko. It was said they were huge, taller than those in Egypt, and that they could even have been a prehistoric power plant built by a very advanced civilization, you know, the kind of conspiracy theories we love so much. The problem is that, as incredible as it sounds, none of this holds up scientifically. What is clear, though, is that this story is a perfect example of how pseudoarchaeology can gain ground over real knowledge. What is going on?
The hill that sparked the madness
It all started when Semir Osmanagić, a Bosnian businessman who introduces himself as a self-taught archaeologist (great start), announced that he had discovered the “oldest pyramid in the world” (uh-huh…) right behind his hometown, suspicious to say the least, right? He called it the Pyramid of the Sun and claimed it wasn’t a hill, but an artificial structure over 12,000 years old, just because he felt like it.
According to him, it wasn’t alone, there were four other pyramids, all perfectly aligned, built with ancient concrete blocks and designed to channel electromagnetic and ultrasonic energy. It looked like illuminati engineering. He even claimed these structures were connected by underground tunnels with healing properties. Sounds impressive, right? Of course.
And what does science say about all this?
Osmanagić has insisted for a long time that he has measured energy waves coming from the pyramids (wait, what?), that the blocks he found are artificial, and that scientists from all over the world have validated his work… But when you start digging deeper, you find it’s not all that shiny… And there wasn’t much to start studying this “discovery” either.
The international scientific community, including geologists, archaeologists, and physicists, have debunked every one of his claims!! Like the fake news you see on X. The hills are pyramid-shaped because nature is sometimes just quirky, that’s all. The blocks Osmanagić presents as concrete are completely natural sandstone formations. And his studies haven’t been published in serious scientific journals or peer-reviewed by experts… Osmanagic, what are you doing?
No scientific method anywhere
The excavations don’t follow any archaeological protocol. There’s no academic supervision. Many authentic remains, like Roman or medieval structures, have been damaged or removed without control because of similar events. And that’s a real problem, because we’re losing documented historical heritage in the chase for one man’s fantasies!
But people still believe it…
Of course, because it’s easier to believe than to wait for scientific rigor. Since 2005, the Visoko pyramids have become a kind of spiritual theme park. There are guided tours, tunnels with relaxing music, meditation, and promises of healing energy, basically, Disneyland for those into esoteric tourism. And it keeps growing, along with Osmanagić’s fame (exactly what he wanted).
Many visitors aren’t looking for evidence, but for experiences. And that’s what he offers: an appealing narrative, full of mystery, that makes you feel like you’re part of something big. Even if it’s based on empty ideas.
The problem isn’t just Visoko
The distrust in science and the fascination with crazy alternative theories is what makes it even more appealing for tourists. The case of the Bosnian pyramids is just another example of how, in the internet age, any story can go viral if it hits the right buttons and reaches the right audience.
So what?
What’s at stake here isn’t just a hill. It’s how we understand our past. Archaeology isn’t about telling pretty stories, it’s about reconstructing what really happened with evidence, with care, with honesty, and this businessman lacked all of that… When the show takes over, we lose the chance to truly learn