The Bosnian Pyramid Phenomenon

Abstract

The Bosnian town of Visoko has in recent years become a New Age pilgrimage site. Several formations in the landscape have been branded as ancient pyramids and tunnels. These purported monuments from bygone times are administrated by a private foundation led by the Bosnian American entrepreneur Semir Osmanagić. His claim is that the structures at Visoko were built tens of thousands of years ago by an advanced civilization that mastered a technology that enabled the concentration of healing energies. This controversial assertion is supported by invoking the supposed scientific proofs for the existence of these energies and by prominently displaying various legitimizing visual and material props. The prospect of coming into contact with the mysterious powers emanating from the site attracts numerous visitors and has led to the commodification of the pyramid and tunnel complex.