New analysis shows remains in Vergina Tumulus not those of Philip II of Macedon

A groundbreaking interdisciplinary study has cast doubt on the long-held belief that the remains found in the Tomb of Persephone at the Great Tumulus of Vergina belong to Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great.

The findings, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, suggest that neither the male nor female remains in the tomb can be attributed to Philip II or his known family members.

Interior view of Tomb I showing the Abduction of Persephone fresco, Demeter, and the Fates; photo adapted from Andronikos, 1994. (Photos via Professor Saatsoglou-Paliadeli)

Tomb of Persephone: A royal mystery revisited

Discovered in 1977 in northern Greece, the Great Tumulus at Vergina revealed a cluster of burial chambers associated with the Argead Dynasty—the royal family that ruled the ancient Kingdom of Macedonia.

Among the tombs, the so-called Tomb of Persephone attracted intense interest. Some scholars argued that it held the remains of Philip II, his wife Cleopatra, and their infant son. This theory was bolstered by ancient accounts suggesting that all three may have been assassinated in a dynastic power struggle.

However, the latest research—carried out by a team of archaeologists, biologists, chemists, and historians from institutions across Europe and the U.K.—calls this interpretation into serious question.

Maxilla-A (inferior view) from the same individual as Mandible-A, with left molars 1–3 found separately but fitting in place. (Photo via L. Wynn-Antikas)

Cutting-edge science disproves earlier claims

Using radiocarbon dating, strontium isotope analysis, and forensic examination, the researchers determined that the adult male remains belonged to a man who died between the ages of 25 and 35. Historical sources, however, record Philip II’s age at death as approximately 46, making this identification implausible.

The female remains, likewise, did not match expected profiles for Cleopatra or any known royal consort from that period.

Furthermore, isotopic analysis of the skeletal material indicated a mismatch with the environmental baselines of Vergina and nearby Pella, the ancient Macedonian capital.

Hole made by tomb robbers on the west wall: A – found filled with stones during excavation; B – view from inside after excavation; adapted from Andronikos, 1994. (Photo via Professor Ch. Saatsoglou-Paliadeli)

Multiple infant burials add new layer of intrigue

Perhaps most surprisingly, the researchers discovered that the tomb contained the scattered remains of up to six infants. These were determined to have been interred centuries after the two adults—ruling out the possibility that they were children of the presumed royal couple.

“The presence of multiple infant remains from a later date complicates the original theory significantly,” the authors noted. “It suggests either a repurposing of the tomb or a misinterpretation of its function entirely.”

1977 excavation photo of the tomb floor showing in-situ bones along the south wall and southwest corner; adapted from Andronikos, 1994. (Photo via Professor Ch. Saatsoglou-Paliadeli)

A high-status burial, but whose?

While the identities of those buried in the Tomb of Persephone remain unknown, the opulence of the tomb indicates that the occupants were almost certainly high-status individuals. However, they were not Philip II and his family, as previously believed.

These findings have wide-reaching implications for the study of ancient Macedonian history and royal succession. They also reopen the debate on the true burial place of Philip II—a mystery that continues to captivate historians and archaeologists alike.