Bosnian Indiana Jones Claims To Have Found Proof Of Ancient Civilization - Relatively Interesting

Bosnian Indiana Jones Claims To Have Found Proof Of Ancient Civilization

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This self-taught archaeologist did not come to the heart of an Eastern European forest just to bask in the beauty of nature. He was there for a purpose — something very specific that could very well change how people view history.

To the uninitiated, what he was searching for would be labeled strange and weird. But he was determined to find physical proof on something he had been theorizing on for the longest time: that ancient civilization was home to some massive iron-made objects that were in the perfect shape of a sphere.

Proof of Ancient Life

Getty Images/Elvis Barukcic

This self-taught archaeologist did not come to the heart of an Eastern European forest just to bask in the beauty of nature. He was there for a purpose — something very specific that could very well change how people view history.

To the uninitiated, what he was searching for would be labeled strange and weird. But he was determined to find physical proof on something he had been theorizing on for the longest time: that ancient civilization was home to some massive iron-made objects that were in the perfect shape of a sphere.

Checkered History

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But, see, he wasn’t immune to mistakes of theory in the past. What other scientists described to be the result of a natural formation, called concretions, he disagreed with totally.

On the other hand, he was convinced that the perfectly shaped spheres held something very special inside.

Bosnian Indiana Jones

Getty Images/Elvis Barukcic

Osmanagic is used to being seen and treated as a controversial fellow — but he remained firm on what he believed in.

Often referred to as the “Bosnian Indiana Jones,” he generated a mix of reactions from scholars and regular folk alike. But he embraced the criticism and even managed to actually look the part. In most of his photos, he is seen wearing a bush hat and leather jacket.

Confirming the Strange

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What are these things that he can’t seem to let go of, citing their huge historical significance? Osmanagic believes that what he had found deep in the forest only confirms the beliefs he’s been trying to share to the world all this time.

One of the biggest stones he found was located in the heart of a forest located in the Zavidovici, a town in central Bosnia.

The Dig Begins

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The start of the excavation attracted both scientists and laypeople alike to the site.

The stone they found is massive and certainly highly impressive. It deserves all the attention and resources that it is getting to finally understand its nature.

What a Sight

Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun Foundation

As they slowly revealed what the ground had kept buried for a long time, the excavators and even the bystanders couldn’t contain their awe.

The sphere had a radius of almost five feet — it was humongous! It showed some signs of wear and erosion on the surface but it remain solid and intact.

Discovery to Challenge All Discoveries

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Because it is likely to be made mostly of pure iron, by its size they assumed that it would weigh over 30 tons. To illustrate, that’s about the weight of four adult elephants combined.

Similar spheres have been excavated in Mexico and Costa Rica, which are located countries away. But what they found in Bosnia could challenge everything that previous discoveries have revealed, depending on how much iron content this latest find had.

Ancient Civilization

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Osmanagic was excited about the find and considers it an important key to better understanding the true nature of civilizations in ancient Europe.

In fact, he claims that it was created by an unknown community in the Balkan region over 1,500 years ago.

Comparing Finds Around the World

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To put further truth to his claims, Osmanagic traveled to different countries where proofs of the existence of ancient communities were found.

He also studied volcanic and stone spheres that were discovered in the likes of Croatia, Serbia, Tunisia, Isla del Cano in Costa Rica, Easter Island and Tenerife.

Valley of Pyramids

Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun Foundation

But the strangest of all the claims was Osmanagic’s statement that the site where a medieval structure called Visoki now stood was once the home of three giant pyramids.

Called the Bosnian Valley of Pyramids, the phenomenon at a hill in Bosnia was labeled by a writer named Paul Von Ward as the most exciting and significant archaeological site in the world. Not all were convinced of this belief, but Osmanagic had found some proof.

Older Than Egyptian Pyramids

Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun Foundation

Osmanagic said that those three humongous pyramids that once stood at Visoko were built using thousands and thousands of slave workers. Allegedly, it was the Illyrians that had these constructed over 12,500 years ago.

That said, the timeline would make the Illyrians much older than the pyramids found in Egypt. If this were true, then all our understanding of the beginnings of ancient civilization would change completely.

Where Are They?

Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun Foundation

This claim was made in 2005. However, much of the fanfare around it now seems to be geared towards promoting tourism to the site.

Although the Bosnian government had already stepped in to give his team the rights and the funding to explore the area, only a giant sphere was found. There had been no pyramids or anything related.

Drawing Criticism

Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun Foundation

It is not surprising that there are negative reactions to Osmanagic’s claims. In fact, mainstream academics do not include his findings in discussions and these are most of the time discounted.

Case in point, one Bostonian professor named Curtis Runnels said that the Balkan community was still dwelling in caves 13,000 years ago, thus making them unable to build any type of house. That means that it would be impossible for them to be able to build anything pyramid-related.