Largest ancient tomb found of a prominent Macedonian

[Amphipolis]

Results on the skeleton(s) to be announced today. We have various leaks.

First it was an old woman around 55 (generally profiling Olympias).

The newest leak says it is a family grave with bones of at least 5 people (!) including the old woman, two young men (around 30), a baby and a burnt man (from an older period).

I emphasize again these are leaks (now featured in the top-selling Greek newspaper Proto Thema), we'll have the real announcement in a few hours.

[Amphipolis]

Four buried (one woman, two men and a baby), one had burned - Total found 550 bones
Confirmed by the Ministry of Culture the information the first protothema.gr reported that five dead Amphipolis. As mentioned characteristics: "The minimum number of individuals identified by the diagnostic skeletal remains equivalent to five people, four of which are assigned to burials and a combusted. The dead of burial distinguished: In a woman (one person), two middle aged men (people 2 and 3) and a newborn person (4 person).



Specifically, the skeletal remains of the funerary monument, the hill castes Amphipolis representing approximately 550 bones, crushed and intact skull in good condition, from which missing bones that make up the face and an almost intact mandible. There were no teeth except one carious root right second premolar, which was located in the mandible and displays advanced apical abscess. Of the 550 bones, which were counted, 157, which emerged after careful repair, different scattered bone fragments were recorded systematically in a database and made their performance effort to single individuals. Moreover, animal bones were identified, some of which seem to belong to equine long bones. The animal bones will be studied by a special Zooarchaeology.

Pictures and drawings of the bones here:

http://www.protothema.gr/culture/article/443700/amfipoli-nekroi-tafou/

[Amphipolis]

The woman

The woman can safely be placed in the age more than 60 years. As regards the height of the old woman, after applying the combination of different methods in the long bones measurements estimated at 157 million.

In female skeleton seems are the main bones found in the cist grave, from 7.8 m. From the top of the chamber and down, that is 1 m. Above the floor of the cist.


The two men

The two men, aged 35-45 years.

Note that the youngest of the two male sections bear traces left upper thoracic, two sides and cervical vertebra and the lower surface of the sternal end of the left key.

Probably identical with aggressive blows-injuries, which should be made by contact with a sharp instrument eg knife and caused his death, as no healing indications distinguished.

The second man, slightly greater than the first, has indications transverse fully healed fracture of the right radius, relatively close to the right wrist.

Moreover, both men have degenerative osteoarthritis and spondylitis lesions in different parts of their skeletons.

In regard to stature of men after applying the combination of different methods in the long bones measurements estimated at 168 m. For person 2 and the 162-163 m. For 3 atom.

the infant

The fourth person is a newborn infant (newborn). The determination of age based on the length and width measurements of the left humerus and left mandible.

Sex determination in that person would not be possible as the morphological characteristics of sex discrimination in the bones of infants are not clear.

Mystery of the identity of the fifth person

The fifth person represented by minimum fragments, only nine (9), especially long bones (Figs. 12, 13) carrying all the deformations (transverse microcracks sometimes intense deformation) and discolorations (off-white and blue / gray) found in complete combustion cases incarnate dead and probably belongs to an adult person.

The general finding picture skeletal residues advocates scraping from anthropogenic interference, which apparently involved both inside the space 4 and inside the cist tomb.

prospects

In skeletal findings will implement a series of analytical methods to better documentation and the completion of fuller information on the pathological changes in diet, the affinity and the place of origin of these people, namely whether it is for people born and raised in Amphipolis or people who have moved from somewhere else in their lives and were buried in this tomb.


Both the visual and analytical methods will be applied to a large number of structures, about 300 from the cemeteries of Amphipolis, within two years research project, funded by the Ministry of Culture and carried out by numerous research team led by S. ladies. Triantafyllou, assistant Professor of Prehistoric Archaeology and Osteoarchaiologias, Department of History and Archaeology, Aristotle and Ch. Papageorgopoulou, assistant Professor of Physical Anthropology, Department of History and Ethnology, Laboratory of Physical Anthropology, LBB.

[Amphipolis]

Ιn skeletal findings of burial monument hill castes except the visual methods, we implemented a series of analytical methods to better documentation and the completion of fuller information on the pathological changes in diet, the affinity and the place of origin of these people, ie whether they are people who were born and grew up in Amphipolis or people who have moved from somewhere else in their lives and were buried in this tomb.

These analytical methods include:

• radiographic study of bone to identify pathological lesions, which is not visually distinguishable but for a fuller description of the already recorded e.g. frontal hyperostosis person 1, sections-injuries (cut marks) person 2 person healed fracture 3.

• histological-microscopic techniques eg If frontal hyperostosis, and wherever else necessary.

• analysis of stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen in order to identify the type of protein consumed the specific individuals.

• strontium analyzes due to the absence of teeth will be limited only to the values resulting from the sampling of bone.

• palaiogenetic analysis (ancient DNA) to describe the biological and genetic history individuals. As part of the analysis will examine the possible blood affinity of three. But tafonomiki The presence of long bones, absence of teeth and parts of the skull in individuals 2 and 3 used in ancient DNA analysis, may prevent obtaining sufficient amounts of endogenous nuclear DNA to successfully and accurately identify the blood relationship. In persons 4 and 5, because of the limited amount of sample and of the high temperature effect due to combustion, the person 5, the above methods can not be applied.

• The application of AMS dating samples of both human bones and the contextual animals, will complete the picture of the succession of tombs, which can be reconstituted through the excavation process.

[Nikolaj]

Ιn skeletal findings of burial monument hill castes except the visual methods, we implemented a series of analytical methods to better documentation and the completion of fuller information on the pathological changes in diet, the affinity and the place of origin of these people, ie whether they are people who were born and grew up in Amphipolis or people who have moved from somewhere else in their lives and were buried in this tomb.

These analytical methods include:

• radiographic study of bone to identify pathological lesions, which is not visually distinguishable but for a fuller description of the already recorded e.g. frontal hyperostosis person 1, sections-injuries (cut marks) person 2 person healed fracture 3.

• histological-microscopic techniques eg If frontal hyperostosis, and wherever else necessary.

• analysis of stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen in order to identify the type of protein consumed the specific individuals.

• strontium analyzes due to the absence of teeth will be limited only to the values resulting from the sampling of bone.

• palaiogenetic analysis (ancient DNA) to describe the biological and genetic history individuals. As part of the analysis will examine the possible blood affinity of three. But tafonomiki The presence of long bones, absence of teeth and parts of the skull in individuals 2 and 3 used in ancient DNA analysis, may prevent obtaining sufficient amounts of endogenous nuclear DNA to successfully and accurately identify the blood relationship. In persons 4 and 5, because of the limited amount of sample and of the high temperature effect due to combustion, the person 5, the above methods can not be applied.

• The application of AMS dating samples of both human bones and the contextual animals, will complete the picture of the succession of tombs, which can be reconstituted through the excavation process.

So when are we going to see the results of these findings?

[makedonche]

So when are we going to see the results of these findings?

Nikolaj
As soon as they can photoshop them enough to convince the rest of the world!

[DedoAleko]

So when are we going to see the results of these findings?

Never.

Link: No more cash for Amphipolis dig at the moment

[Constellation]

Never.

Link: No more cash for Amphipolis dig at the moment

This excavation turned out to be a bust. Many have cast doubt on the whole site.

[MKD Hockey]

Amphipolis tomb mystery deepens: Burial chamber CAN'T belong to Alexander the Great as it was built after his death, expert claims

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2986097/Amphipolis-tomb-mystery-deepens-Burial-chamber-T-belong-Alexander-Great-built-death-expert-claims.html#ixzz3Tt4MPtQK

[Nikolaj]

I see I see...

I bet they found a little too much R1A so they called it off all together.

For such a high profile tomb, we have such an unbelievable exit and conclusion.

This is how you know they are bullshit.

[Amphipolis]

So when are we going to see the results of these findings?

The first major results can be seen in posts #527-#528. More pathological details, DNA relations between the dead etc will be announced within 8-12 months since they got the bones.

I guess papers will keep on coming for years, yet it's certain we've lost (most of our) interest and I don't know what could make these researches spectacular again.

Meanwhile there have been some minor developments. Peristeri made comments that try to undermine the importance of the bones, only showing she's not very consistent. As for the new Minister he didn't say there's no more money and everything stops in Amphipolis, he said Amphipolis doesn't need more money than what is already scheduled.

The tabloid news a few posts above is mostly stupid (including irrelevant references to Alexander) but it's true there was a (protesting) geologist who was not in the excavation group (just passed for a while?) and made an unauthorized announcement (which is inappropriate and illegal), thus we don't know how reliable he is.

[George S.]

When is the public allowed to see the site and artifacts.

[Amphipolis]

When is the public allowed to see the site and artifacts.

The main artifacts (Sphinxes, Caryatides, mosaic) will remain IN the Tomb which will be visitable (I guess) within 2-5 years from now or even more. Visitors will obviously not be stepping ON the mosaic so they must construct a balcony or a glass floor or remove the mosaic.

The lesser findings are now in conservation stage and it’s most possible they will be exhibited in Amphipolis Museum within a year.

[Dejan]

Whole thing is most likely a typical greek farce, even though something exists there

[Amphipolis]

In a speech today Peristeri stated her opinion for the first time, that the monument of Amphipolis was in the memory of Hephaestion, commissioned to Deinocrates by Alexander the Great.

... and that there are all the proofs (inscriptions) on it.

Thus, we should be waiting for the publications or the first counter-arguments, but at least we have a first taste of Peristeri's opinion.