Unpaid adviser to the Ministry of Culture Anna Panagiotarea told journalists on Friday that “at the moment, there are fourteen formulated theories regarding the identity of the tomb’s occupant.”

“I want to make clear that the members of the excavation team are not making any statements regarding the much discussed topic of the identity of the deceased. They are waiting patiently, as befits a scientist, for the funerary complex to speak for itself,” she added.

Regarding the dating of the burial complex Ms. Panagiotarea noted that the head of the Amphipolis dig Katerina Peristeri, based on archaeological evidence, believes that the monument dates back to the last quarter of the fourth century BC, a scientific theory which has been presented in two archaeological conferences.

The excavation team also responded to criticisms regarding the Culture Ministry’s role as a source of information on the progress of Amphipolis excavation works.

Ms. Panagiotarea underlined that, given the fact that the excavation has drawn unprecedented interest among Greeks and foreigners alike, the Culture Ministry uses press releases to inform the interested parties, scientists and non-scientists alike.