Casta Tomb in the Amphipolis region in northern Greece may soon be open to the public following a visit by Greek Culture and Sports Minister Lina Mendoni.

She said that the tomb is “a very rare monument of exceptional historical and archaeological significance, but also a tremendous developmental resource for the region.”

Ms Mendoni knows the tomb well as she had been actively involved in the excavation of a number of sites, including Amphipolis.

The discovery of the tomb at Amphipolis was gripping in the summer of 2014. Speculation was sky high as then prime minister Antonis Samaras followed Ms Mendoni to the site and peeked inside the burial tomb, hinting that an amazing announcement would soon be made. Skeptics pointed to the strange timing of the ‘announcements’ that overshadowed debt talks with Greece’s creditors.

READ MORE: Who lies within the walls of the Amphipolis tomb?

Every week yielded more discoveries before the the Coalition of the Left SYRIZA party took over on 25 January, 2015, abandoning the focus on the site.

With Ms Mendoni’s appointment as Minister of Culture, studies concerning urgent restoration work will be examined by the Central Archaeological Council on 17 December.

READ MORE: No more cash for Amphipolis dig

The minister declined to give a clear timetable for when the monument would be open to the public but she indicated that it might be possible for special groups to visit by the end of 2021 provided all deadlines were met.