Official announcement (14-9-14)

On Friday 12-9-2014 became the members of the interdisciplinary team, the third Chamber of the monument, from the existing hole in the wall of the third aperture, to illustrate the existing archaeological picture of and to determine the structural condition of the cabin, in order to design the measures necessary to retaining and stringing/wiring. (foto 1, draft).

From the in situ observation arose the following data: The height of the sandy soil is lower than that in the previous two venues. On soils found Sandy natural sediments with fossils of shells, derived from the natural terrain of the Hill Kasta. According to the geological observations it appears that the earth remains undisturbed.

Internally, the canopy is made of limestone, just like in former wards.(foto 2,3)

The three vertical walls-East, Western and Northern- in the visible part, Repeat the same marble coating format, like the two previous wards, with uprights , Coronation and Ionic architrave. (foto 4,5)

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In the southern wall-the visible part of- the right and left of thyrwmatos, continues the marble coating. The Super travertines are covered with red color coating. (foto 6). Forfeited the inner section of yperthyroy.(foto 7).

The dome of the Chamber shows is in a State of limit equilibrium, (foto 8) the voussoirs in the region of the coronation to show open joints, in nifty depth, from the inner surface. In almost all of the observed cracking and tholitwn in addition to extensive areas, on either side of the coronation, found significant mass loss of material. (foto 9)

Marble stanchions around, the visible part of the vertical walls are systematically peeling pieces found on the surface of backfill, photographed, numbered and perisynelegisan.(foto 10). The detachment seems to be the result of intense distress, probably from the large amount of filling the dome. Specific, the southern part of the Chamber is charged from height 2 m land. about, While in the North the lands have a height about 12-13.

The above technical data do not allow safe execution of removal of soil from the third Chamber, before taking the necessary protective measures. In Particular, bracing-prop of the Chamber, I used stronger provision than that of the previous two cubicles. It will comprise a system of horizontal beam plaisiwtwn, in length and width of the cabin, for the bracing of the vertical walls of the geostatic triggers. To support the canopy I used metal heating beams. The removal of the soil will be made by instalments, in areas of backfill, enabling the secure fit of the bearing of shoring.

The application of retaining measures and stringing/wiring, because of the difficulty of access to space and the requirement for special attention, due to adverse structural situation, will require several days of work.

End, work is ongoing documentation of geometric monument and its surroundings, While the city of Amphipolis mounted floodlights and security system.

Official announcement (12-9-14)

The excavation work is continuing in the tumulus Kasta Amphipolis, by KI΄ Ephorate of prehistoric and classical Antiquities.

Far, the removal of sandy soils in the area, behind the septal wall with caryatids, It reached three meters from the floor. After removing the sandy soil turned up the upper part of the third septal wall. In this section, showed the existence of elaborate marble perithyrwmatos, Ionic style, like the rest of the architectural elements of space. The marble fragment of yperthyroy, found symfyes cornice which covers the opening entry. (foto 1,2)

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In the day will attempt to login to the site, from the existing opening, in the upper western part of the third septal wall. So, you will establish access conditions members of the interdisciplinary team and technical infrastructure. The aim is to design and to adopt the measures necessary to ensure the protection of workers and the third space. At The Same Time, will become meticulous documentation of the current situation in the area.

Continues, also, the topographic mapping, in order to obtain the exact geometry of the monument. On the basis of the final geometry will be drawn the total retaining and ypostilwsis study of the monument. So, ensure the necessary technical data for the compilation of studies integrated protection and future promotion of the monumental ensemble.

Official announcement (11-9-14)

Continued the excavation work on the Hill Kasta Amphipolis, by CAY Ephorate of Antiquities.

Today, removed the first dome of sealing wall in front of the caryatids and revealed the continuation of two layers of cheiridwtwn sculptures. (foto 1)

The tunics bearing exceptional art folds. (foto 2,3).

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The caryatids, from the external side, It seems that they also raise slightly the tunic, with the corresponding hand.(foto 4). Facial and parts of Eastern karyatidas pole, found during the excavation and were attributed to sculpture. (foto 5).

The members of the interdisciplinary team found that internal arms karyatidon not supported in the architrave, as there are no links molybdochoisis, either edit the bottom surface of a marble epistyle, to justify the terms of support.

Work progressed on the expulsion of sandy soils in the area, front and back of the septal wall with caryatids. Up the marble ceiling level, the two side walls are covered by marble uprights, who mimic the precinct.

At The Same Time, get the technical operations for the bracing and the restore of the monument, in the space behind the caryatids:

1.Completed the bracing of the north side of the septal wall second with caryatids and the South side of the third septal wall.

2.Completed, the bracing- the dome to restore space, behind the caryatids.

  1. Additional protective measures were taken in Western Karyatidas, with vertical ypostilwsis mounting on both sides of this. Restore additional requirement, due to finding extra vertical crack in the head, due to increased crush load, which comes mainly from the support of the marble slab of the roof and from the western part of an epistyle.
  2. Complete the secure ceiling plate restore marble.

Continued the topographic mapping of part of the enclosure, that was revealed this year, the right and left of the entrance of the funerary monument, with satellite and terrestrial surveying methods (3D laser scanning). Extra, topografikis started documentation of the surroundings of the monumental complex .

Finally for the protection of the monument and workers placed lightning rod on the top of the Hill.

Official announcement (09-9-14)

The excavation work is continuing on the Hill by Kasta CAY Ephorate of prehistoric and classical Antiquities. The removal of sandy soils continues horizontally and across the expanse of space, between the septal wall with Caryatids and the third wall, in order to achieve the balance of pressures and to ensure constant static adequacy of the monument, in accordance with the decisions of the multidisciplinary technical team.

Today, presented the first axonometriki design representation of the funerary monument, from the architect of the YPPOA k. M. Their two leg with Lefantzi walls on which are, in one first the Sphinxes, in the second the Caryatids. Maintenance tasks and their continued mounting.

Continue, also, documentation of all work of archaeological excavation work, digital and conventional media.

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Official announcement (07-9-14)

On Thursday 4 September, wide-ranging meeting on the construction site of the Hill Kasta, under the General Secretary of the Ministry of culture and sport,. Lina Mendoni, with the multidisciplinary team, the head of which is the k. K. Peristeri and involving executives of ancient monuments of the YPPOA Address. CONTINUE THE READING

Official announcement (02-9-14)

Continued intensively by the multidisciplinary team, under the direction of k.. K. Peristeri, the Hill Kasta, technical work armoring funerary monument and the immediately surrounding area, to avoid repercussions from any weather.

Tasks include :

  1. Destruction of the first formation of the Chamber to a step counterbalance ,for the stability of the second diaphragm (foto 1,2).
  2. Completing the necessary tasks of retaining walls for temporary stabilization of an epistyle of the second diaphragm, which appears to be based unsteadily. (foto 3)

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  1. Completing the necessary actions on retaining wall of Sphinxes. (foto 4,5)
  2. Construction job level, with plywood plates, the first partition, at the level of an epistyle , for safe access and detailed the near observation and inspection of the dome of the first Chamber but also for the safety of workers. (foto 6)
  3. Construction of temporary straggistikis annulus, on the outer perimeter of the enclosure, for easy draining rainwater and fitting membrane steganwtikis, behind the site of the existing input protection stegastoy in the Tomb. (foto 7,8)

In progress the design of retaining and ypostilwsis provisional measures of the second diafragmatos, particularly towards the Western side, in order to allow safe access and work apochwmatwsis and dome support the second Chamber.

While work continues cleaning the enclosure of the mound, in the Southwest. After the completion of the measures of protection, the excavation work will begin within the monument. (foto 9)

Official announcement (31-8-14)

The excavation work is continuing on the Hill Kasta, in Amphipolis, by CAY Ephorate of prehistoric and classical Antiquities. With the removal of soil from the vestibule, in the space behind the wall of Sphinxes, marmarothetimenoy flooring Department revealed, with white, small irregular pieces of marble, on a red background, surviving in extremely good condition. (foto 1,2). On the eve of the first wall of septal Sphinxes, identified on the fresco which covered, traces of blue paint. (foto 3).

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It Was Found, also, that in all three places , After the wall sealing, There is a loose Sandy backfill, as the maximum height of the dome. The three spaces, created by the construction of transverse wall diafragmatikwn, along the canopy, It seems that katachwthikan when sealing funerary monument. The walls, partly, work and retaining elements of destruction relaxer. So the gap in the outer wall and sealing the holes the next SEPTA, that might have come from removing stones or by not positioning the stones, It seems that is part of the sealing plan Tomb. (foto 4)

The finding, until today, existence of three rooms, along the canopy, is another special feature of the monument, which revealed to the Hill Kasta.

The first phrenic wall, After entering, has been revealed only as the Ionic architrave, which is decorated with relief rosettes oktafylloys. In the extreme eastern part of the upper part of a marble epistyle appeared lateral parastados. (foto 5). Also, It was found that it lacks the extreme western part of an epistyle, like this super stones. As we have already mentioned- Bulletin of August 25th-on the septal wall there will be admission, which leads to the second area of the monument. The input format will be revealed after the removal of soils, during the next few days.

Technical work

At The Same Time, the progress of research of excavation, evolve, with apace, the completion of construction of infrastructure as well as the armor of the monument and the General area of, from unexpected weather.

To protect the monument from the rain, Apart from the construction of the roof, which was completed, (foto 6) started regional of the monument, the formation of runoff rainwater pipelines.

For the removal of loose sand destruction necessitated structural and geotechnical study which includes:

  1. Complete boxing of bulkheads with wood elements.
  2. Configuring "batteries", in heavy duty working scaffold, which allow the restore of the dome, (foto 7) creating proper vestibule and smooth access from space to space, as well as the safe implementation of apochwmatisis of premises. (foto 8).
  3. The strong second septal area bracing for strong impulses from the earths next space.

4. Input external bracing of the Sphinxes, for the safety of the diaphragm and seating data antistiriktikwn, that may be required, during the progress of the excavation work. (foto 9,10).

Official announcement (25-8-14)

The excavation work is continuing on the CAY Ephorate of prehistoric and classical antiquities in Tumulus Kasta, in Amphipolis. Continued removal of lithoplinthwn from the wall sealing and revealed almost the entire facade funerary monument, that is a highly original composition for the corresponding type of architecture of the Macedonian Tomb, the last quarter of 4 century BC. (Photo 1)

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The façade has a decor that is no different from the side walls, with fresco that mimics the wider marble precinct. The maximum opening between the pilasters is 1, 67 m. The typology indicates that there were no Leafs but it is simple open entry. (Photo 2)

Also, with the continued removal of soils, inside of the antechamber, appeared under the marble Ionic architrave, nested marble lining, from uprights, throughout the length of the side walls. (Photo 3, 4 ) At a distance of 6 m. from the opening of the entrance was revealed the upper marble septal wall, inadequate during part left part of (Photo 5). Behind him are two more spaces.

On the septal wall revealed, also, marble epistyle with cornice, similar corresponding in the same enclosure. Bear decor with relief rosettes oktafylloys, at the height of an epistyle of lateral walls (Photo 6).

On the septal wall are expected to, there is a second entrance that leads to the inside of the monument. The soils of the space created behind the door, will be removed in the next few days, If the allow mounting and maintenance tasks in points, they have revealed

Official announcement (24-8-14)

The excavation work is continuing in the Tumulus Kasta of Amphipolis, by CAY Ephorate of prehistoric and classical Antiquities, for uncovering the funerary monument. Removed ten lithoplinthoi, they were the seventh and eighth series, the wall sealing. There are three rows to deconstruction of all eleven structures found. So, revealed the continued input of the monument's facade, with decoration, similar to that of side walls. I.e., white-colored fresco, extremely elaborate, that mimics the marble courtyard. (foto 1).

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At The Same Time, revealed, under the capitals, marble pilasters of thyrwmatos, which overlap, also, from white fresco. (foto 2). The partial removal of soils, located behind the entrance, revealed the rear entry, very elaborate, facing the. On the fresco of epistyles of traces of red and black color. The side and rear view of Ionian epikranwn of Antis, that overlap by fresco, It is epizwgrafismenes with the same colors. (foto 3, 4).

Have begun to emerge and the side walls of the antechamber. Marble Thassos is pot and decorated in their upper part with an ionic architrave, on wavelet transform whose traces black and red color. (foto 5).

In addition to the excavation work, mounting and maintenance operations are made of decor, as soon as it comes to light, from skilled conservators.

Official announcement (21-8-14)

Continuing the excavation work at the Tomb, in the Tumulus Kasta from ZB Ephorate of prehistoric and classical Antiquities, in Amphipolis. Today, evacuated, with extreme caution, soils which were in the air and behind the statues of Sphinxes, in depth about, two measures , and in width proportional to the input of the Tomb, i.e. 4.50 m. I So, proceeded, the largest portion of the dome's eswrrachioy's apochwmatwsi.

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At The Same Time, continued removal of five lithoplinthwn , from the sixth row of the wall sealing, with the help of instrument engineering . After their removal, It was revealed under the basis of Sphinxes, the upper section of the marble thyrwmatos.
Covered with fresco fragment in imitation of ionic. Bear decorating with red, Blue and black color. Immediately, below the Ionic architrave, uncovered two Ionic capitals of the Antis of port, also overlapped with fresco and epizwgrafismena with the same colors. The work will continue tomorrow with priority the strengthening and maintenance of current findings.