A wealth of new discoveries is gradually being uncovered as the excavation of the Ancient Amphipolis tomb continues. The Ministry of Culture and Sports issued an announcement accompanied by new photos on Sunday.
One of the latest discoveries revealed by the archaeologists’ trowels is a floor section made of irregular pieces of white marble on red background. The floor section is in excellent condition and is located in the antechamber behind the wall with the two sphinxes. The remains of a fresco with traces of blue coloring were also found on the first diaphragmatic wall behind the sphinxes.
Archaeologists say that all three chambers discovered behind the sealing wall, created by transverse diaphragmatic walls, had been filled with loose sand all the way up to the tholos at the time the tomb was sealed, with the diaphragmatic walls acting partly as support to contain the loose material.
Both the gap in the external sealing wall and the gaps in the diaphragmatic walls, possibly caused by the removal of stones or by failure to insert stones, appear to be part of the tomb-sealing process. The existence of three chambers along the length of the tholos is another unique feature of the monument on Casta Hill, archaeologists say.
The Ministry announcement notes that the first diaphragmatic wall after the entrance had been revealed up to the Ionic architrave, which was decorated with carved rosettes, while the western section is missing.
The entrance leading to the monument’s next area is expected to be brought to light once dirt has been removed. Works to protect the monument from unexpected weather conditions continue as channels are dug to guide rainwater away from the monument.
Further work must be done to support the tomb’s structure and protect its integrity, especially from pressure exerted by the large quantities of earth within the next chamber.
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