Amphipolis/Kasta Hill, a Heroon for Hephaistion?

With my deepest respect for all archaeologists involved in the work at the Tomb of Amphipolis/Kasta Hill, I can’t help wondering how much of their comments are based on true facts or are mere speculations. Of course, they have to consider every possibility and examine each and every hint, but at this stage I personally feel that we have had enough speculations when it comes to dating the tomb or to identifying its occupants.

[Picture from the Ministerio de Cultura Grecia as published by Mediterraneo Antigo]

The latest headlines are made by three inscriptions in which the word parelavoni (received) is found next to the monogram of Hephaistion. This leads archaeologists to believe that this very tomb could actually be a Heroon dedicated to the worship of Hephaistion. But then, as early as the 1970, other monograms have been found on the stone blocs scattered around the Lion of Amphipolis, all belonging to Macedonian and Thracian soldiers.

Both Andrew Chugg and Nicholas Saunders have expressed their reserve about this latest statement about Hephaistion as formulated in this article published by Mediterraneo Antiguo. Couldn’t we wait till we have more substantial elements on which to base our theories?