THE THRACIAN SANCTUARY AT SEMERCHETO (Borislav Borislavov – b_borislavov@hotmail.com) The explorations of the southeastern slope and the ritual platform with six layers of the Late Bronze Age (1600 – 1100 BC) and two layers of the transition period to the Early Iron Age continued. Part of a stone wall, 9 m in length, 1 m in width and 50 cm in height, was discovered at the foot of the hill. The wall surrounded the sanctuary and according to the finds and the pottery it dates to the Hellenistic period. A pot was placed into the ground from the inner side of the wall. Piles of sherds and animal bones were discovered. Four ritual pits containing sherds and animal bones were explored on the southeastern slope, within the layer of the Early Iron Age (11th – 6th centuries BC). Three of the pits contained fragments of tortoises’ carapaces. Exploration of the Late Bronze Age layers of the northwestern part of the ritual platform on the summit of the sanctuary was carried out. A natural trapezoid rock niche open to the east was explored. The niche was closed from the west by a vertical stone block. At some point the block collapsed over a Late Bronze Age layer. The material and the layer situated above the block also date to the Late Bronze Age, which indicates of a powerful earthquake during that period. Three ceramic vessels arranged one above other and sherds of at least two other vessels were found inside the niche. The vessels were placed within clay and were fired at high temperature. Due to the fire, the clay became a ceramic mass and some of the vessels lost their shape. The vessels have a decoration of solar motifs and date to the Late Bronze Age. A fragment of zoomorphic figurine and a spindle whorl were discovered at c. 50 cm to the north.