Painted human figures have been discovered at the mysterious, richly-decorated tomb in Amphipolis in northern Greece, according to a news announcement by the Greek Ministry of Culture.
Found on the door frames of the second chamber, the figures will be examined with lasers.
Pictures of the newly found paintings, as well as additional information, have not yet been released.
“We are not hiding anything. New findings are revealed slowly as the restoration process continues,” Greek Culture Minister Kostas Tassoulas said.
Archaeologists led by Katerina Peristeri hope the paintings may help solve the mystery of who is buried at the massive tomb — 0.3 miles in circumference — dating back to Alexander the Great’s reign in the late 4th century B.C.
A skeleton was found at the site earlier this month. It was the last chapter of an extraordinary archaeological exploration that wound through huge decapitated sphinxes, walls guarded by colossal caryatids (female statues that serve as architectural support) and floors decorated with stunning mosaics.
At the moment the archaeologists cannot rule out the mound conceals other burials. According to Tassoulas, a second phase of excavation will begin shortly, as scientists from the University of Thessaloniki use three-dimensional tomographic imagery to search for possible additional burial chambers.
New details about the excavation are expected to be revealed next Saturday, when Peristeri will disclose her findings at a press conference in Athens.
