EXPLORATIONS NEAR THE VILLAGE OF KOLAROVO (Georgi Mitrev – gmmitrev@yahoo.com, Sotir Ivanov) A field survey in the late antique and mediaeval fortress called Chukata was carried out. The fortress is located in Belasitsa Mountain and protects the approach to Demir Kapiya pass and the only one cart-way across the mountain that existed in the past. The site was heavily damaged in 1987 and 1989 during works with excavating machines. Due to the excavation works, the fortification constructions from the east, north and west, and several buildings inside the fortress were demolished. About 60 % of the area of the fortress is heavily damaged from the machines and the demolition is irreparable. Foundations of buildings and sectors of the fortification wall on the ground level are still visible in some places. Two construction periods were distinguished in a sector of the eastern fortification wall. The first period presumably dates to the beginning of the 11th century; the fortification wall is 1.80 in width with a bonding medium of mud. The second period dates to 12th – 14th centuries; the fortification wall is 1.10 m in width and is bonded with white mortar. A sector of the earliest fortification wall of the 5th – 6th centuries exists on the eastern slope of the hill. It is built of roughly cut stones bonded with red mortar and is 1.40 m in width. Most likely, the fortress was part of the fortification network in the river valley of Strumeshnitsa that was made by the Bulgarian king Samuil (997 – 1014).