DNA testing to aid in idenifying occupant of Amphipolis tomb

November 13, 2014
Written by E.Tsiliopoulos

The DNA profile of those buried in the Royal Vergina tomb will be compared to the new DNA material gathered from the Kasta Hill in Amphipolis, in order to determine whether the person buried in Amphipolis is of royal descent related to the royal family of Vergina, according to the director of the “Demokritos” lab Giannis Maniatis who is also responsible for the antiquity measurements lab.

According to Mr. Maniatis, if there is no connection of the person buried in Amphipolis to those buried in Vergina, then further laboratory analysis will be conducted that will be compared to other DNA material found from other populations that have been found in the area, in order to find out more about the origin of the body buried in Amphipolis.

But how will we be able to find the “hot topic” of who is buried in Amphipolis?

The remains of the body found 1.60 meters under the floor of the third chamber in the Amphipolis tomb, will undergo a bone analysis. Then it will undergo a DNA analysis, as Mr. Maniatis explained.

Some of the results of this analysis will be out in 3 to 4 months, but in order to be able to have a more “complete” picture of the skeleton's identity, around 12 months of tests are needed. “These lab analysis is very complex and requires the systematic tests of specific samples in special conditions. The results take time, but if we rush them, they may lead us to false conclusions,” Mr. Maniatis added.

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