Archaeologists are trying to reach the interior of the ancient tomb of Amphipolis and are hoping to unlock the puzzle of the fourth chamber. So far, they have managed to proceed down 23 meters of the tomb’s burial path and have reached the third chamber. Another 50 meters of excavation work may be required before they manage to reach the center of the tomb and they may even find that the path could divide to another portion that would take them deeper underground and into the tomb’s secrets.

The depth of the third chamber is still unfathomable and geologists are trying to calculate this by using a hand drill that allows them to dig their way through the volumes of sandy backfill. The range of the instrument they are using is 7 meters, however the floor may be much lower.

The depth of the third chamber may be many times that of 6.5 meters and may equate to the distance of the floor from the arched ceiling of the first two chambers. Furthermore, the main burial chamber may be near or right in the center of the mound. Lead archaeologist Katerina Peristeri has not confirmed whether the theory that the burial mound is organized in concentric circles is true. She has however expressed the belief that the work was designed by a leading architect, possibly Dinocrates who was close to Alexander the Great.

Those lucky enough to have entered the third chamber have felt a sense of awe upon encountering the caryatid statues and cannot begin to imagine what they may find deeper within the tomb.

Cost of the excavations

An official announcement made by journalist Anna Panagiotarea on behalf of the Ministry of Culture states that 590,000 euros have already funded the excavation site.
Specifically
* 2010 – 20,000 euros from prefecture of Serres
* 2011 – 80,000 euros from region of Central Macedonia
* 2012 – 50,000 euros from the Ministry of Culture and 50.000 euros from the Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace.
* 2013 – 90,000 euros from the Ministry of Culture.
* 2014 – 150,000 euros from the Ministry of Culture.
* 2014 – 150.000 euros from the National Bank of Greece.