Expeditions with Ajdin
Written by: Ajdin Ahmetspahić, Foundation Guide Coordinator, JUNE 2017
With the departure of the second group of the „Expedition to the Bosnian Pyramids with volunteering“ last week, the June term of the volunteering season has ended at the archaeological sites in Visoko.
Over 50 volunteers from France, Canada, USA, Spain, England, Australia, Denmark, Finland, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Turkey, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Austria, Belgium and Bosnia-Herzegovina participated in the excavations and the expansion of the probes on the other side of the Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun and clearing the prehistoric corridors and rooms at the locality of the underground labyrinth Ravne.
After 10 working days with 6 hours of volunteering hours each, we can make a conclusion that a very good job has been done. It’s visible, in particular at the probe No.5 at the Pyramid of the Sun. The probe is expanded for over a meter towards the top by removing a layer of humus and roots, at the depth of approx 1,6 meters and 4 meters of width. We did it in the way we formed so-called „chain“ and carried the buckets to the part below the excavation zone. Even the high temperature wasn’t a problem at the probe surrounded by pine and forest.
Before the work ended, we cleared up the probes 5 and 11 from the grown vegetation between the concrete blocks, swept and cleaned, so now every visitor is able to see clearly the artificial mega blocks covering the surface of the pyramid.
In the tunnels, the volunteers assisted to our permanent workers Edo and Ministar in clearing the new passages at approx 250 meters from the entrance. Here we also used the „chain“ but this time instead of buckets we have exchanged the full/empty carts. Thanks to the efficiency and functionality of such working practice we managed to assist in expanding the tunnel for 5-6 meters in a couple of working days only. Besides that, we cleaned the existing supporting wood and information boards from deposits of dust and fungus.
The tools owned by the Foundation and regularly replaced and maintained, are now upgraded with the new one, and I will point out a selfless donation of the young volunteer Jacob from Australia. He wanted to assist the Foundation in this way also and to be a part of the project, therefore, before the departure, he gave as a present his working tools for works at the pyramid and in the tunnels. The tools will certainly be useful since we are expecting large groups of volunteers in upcoming months.
The Foundation has provided for each volunteering day a large meal for all the workers. Delicious Bosnian specialities and true domestic hospitality our volunteers had a chance to see and feel with our associates in the woman association „Visočke sevdalije“, restaurant „Vidikovac“, restaurant „Ribarski dom“ as well as at the site of the top of the Bosnian Pyramid of the Moon.
Our group was filmed by the Belgian TV crew, which was following us for a few days and testified the revealing of the new concrete blocks. They said that in this way they will show to the young people in Belgium what is happening in the heart of Bosnia-Herzegovina and that they are hoping there will be hundreds of new volunteers in the next year. We also sent the invitation, with working, singing and smiling, showing the positive energy and new friendships.
The volunteering season is continuing on the July 2, with the new Expedition groups arriving, and the first volunteering day is July 4 at the Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun.
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