Stan wrote:
Fortuneteller, to what extent do ethnic or religious rivalries play a part in this controversy?
A few weeks ago someone from former Jugoslavia stated that
the government support of Osmanegic was the first step toward creating a taliban- like regime in Bosnia.
This might be your source:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/NoPyramidsInBosnia/
If “Taliban-like” attribute came from this site, then I don’t think that it is related to religion (i.e., Islam), unless we want to talk “conspiracy theory”. In this context, Taliban is an example of a system that destroys its own cultural heritage and factual history. As you know, Taliban destroyed Buddha statues of immeasurable value. Thus, Taliban is Osmanagic’s foundation supported by some politicians. His religion is Alternative History. The petitioners warn that Os destroys factual history and cultural heritage of Bosnia. I’ll try to explain the reasons for the petitioners’ concerns.
The original name of the hill for that Os named the Pyramid of Sun is Visocica. The name of the medieval city built on the hill is Visoki. You can find a bit more about the history of Visoko at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visoko
As you see from that short historical overview, Visoki was an important city of the medieval Bosnia. Therefore, the artifacts that are just to be discovered there, might be important for the modern Bosnian state and its political organization. Bosnian history has been falsified many times. The petitioners have concerns that the real and true history of Bosnia will never be written if Osmanagic’s people destroy the artifacts.
The language of the petition is quite strong, but please try to understand that these people have concerns for their country. For the sake of an example, please imagine that you know of an archeological site in Philadelphia, which contains original and very important artifacts related to the Declaration of Independence of the USA. Now please imagine Os coming from Texas and telling you that his “newest scientific methods” show that a colony of aliens lives underground just below your site. Os wants to dig, because aliens are more important for tourism. In his mind, it is logical that more people would come to see aliens than some old papers and old things that belonged to Tomas Jefferson. I forgot to say that Os has a buddy from Texas, whose name is George W Bush, and who also supports the dig.
You have already learnt about the quality of Osmanagic’s work. You know his New Age friends, and you know their backgrounds. If you imagine the scenario that I described above, would you let him dig at your site?
I don’t know if I’ve managed to explain how Bosnians, who want that their country keeps its independence, feel about Os and his enterprise, but I think that their concerns are legitimate.
Speaking of ethnical groups in Bosnia, let’s have a closer look at Osmangic’s opposition. It seems that all Bosnian ethnic groups are represented (and there are more than tree groups in Bosnia.)
1.The loudest is Mr. Zilka Kujundjic-Vejzavic, archeologist from National Museum in Sarajevo. Zilka’s comments on Osmanagic’s work are too venomous even for my taste. Sorry, I cannot think about any other word than “venomous.” This lady works at the national museum in Sarajevo. Here is a couple of links where you can find her name.
http://www.zemaljskimuzej.ba/english/archeology.htm
http://translate.google.com/translate?h ... n%26sa%3DN
The previous link and the following one describe the site near Visoko where thousands of artifacts were found. Ciko mentioned these artifacts in one of his last posts.
http://translate.google.com/translate?s ... te%2Eshtml
2. Dr. Blagoje Govedarica, University of Heidelberg (mentioned in the petition above)
http://translate.google.com/translate?s ... ion%2FDBBC
and review of his book:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prehistoric/review ... darica.htm
3. Prof. Dr. Enver Imamovic, University of Sarajevo, former director of the national museum (mentioned in the petition above)
Dr. Imamovic made an attempt to explain the ethnical history of Bosnia. Dr. Imamovic was the director of the national museum during the war. His name was often mentioned related to preserving 700 year old Sarajevo Heggadah:
http://www.baptiststandard.com/2003/1_1 ... gadah.html
Since I like symbols, I particularly appreciated his attempt to prove that fleur-de-lis is used in Bosnia for 2000 years (the paper is in Bosnian and I am posting the link just because I like the pics):
http://www.spiritofbosnia.org/?lang=bos&x=17&y=22
4. Dr. Dubravko Lovrenovic, historian who specializes in medieval Bosnia, member of the committee for protection of national heritage. Dr. Lovrenovic promised to “set himself on fire” if Os finds pyramids in Visoko
http://bs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubravko_Lovrenovi%C4%87
I will not discuss the relationships between these two gentlemen, (i.e., Imamovic vs. Lovrenovic), but I think, if these two manage to agree on something than that is probably right.
There is no doubt in my mind that these people contributed a lot to the Bosnian science. However, the museum (with thousands of their artifacts found around Visoko) failed to attract media attention and trigger a business cycle. Os managed to bring CNN, BBC, MBC, etc. Business kicked off in Visoko since Os started digging. They want him to continue. Their requests are legitimate too.
Things are getting more complicated if we add mythology that has to be reshaped in Bosnia. I would love to add a couple of thoughts about the Bosnian mythology, but this post is already too long, and you are probably not interested in these aspects
That link takes you to a page on the Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun website, of which Osmamagich is Chairman of the Board of Directors. If it's on HIS site, then HE said it. Anyone who tries to imply the report has been misquoted by the press is obviously a gullible CRETIN.
stone walls of the pyramid
This "pyramid" is supposed to have 45 degree walls....yet here is an alleged one which is perfectly vertical! 
I'm not interested in the politics either, there's enough in Britain to bore us all rigid.