ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS OF TUMULUS NO. 1 NEAR THE VILLAGE OF DOSITEEVO (Borislav Borislavov – b_borislavov@hotmail.com) The tumulus was located near the Thracian sanctuary ‘Semercheto’ and had slightly ellipsoid outline, 5.80 m by 8.40 m in diameter and 50 – 60 cm in height. The tumular embankment consisted of broken stones closely arranged to each other. Sherds were found predominantly in the northern half of the tumulus. The pottery is entirely of the Early Iron Age (11th – 6th centuries BC), decorated with cannelures and rarely with stamped decoration. A rectangular platform constructed of broken stones and located approximately in the center of the tumulus was explored. Slag under the layers of stones, Early Iron Age sherds and bones of a young sheep were found in the tumular center. A small plate of red jasper without retouching was found during the excavations. The excavated tumulus was not related to a human burial. The material discovered shows that most likely the tumulus was built up during specific ritual practices. The pottery dates to particular phase of the beginning of the Early Iron Age, which is synchronous to the 9th – 10th strata of Kastanas.