PROTO-BULGARIAN PRODUCTION CENTER NEAR THE VILLAGE OF NOVOSEL (Stela Doncheva – donchevastela@yahoo.com) The discovery of metal ornaments and lead production moulds justified conducting archaeological excavations in order to localize the center for their production. Thirteen sondages were carried out up to 1.10 m in depth. A Proto-Bulgarian cultural stratum was discovered up to 70 cm in depth. It contained pottery of the 9th – 10th centuries. Six Byzantine coins of Romanos I Lekapenos, minted in the period 934 – 941 AD, were found. A Thracian cultural stratum containing pottery of the 6th – 5th centuries BC was explored from 80 cm to 1 m in depth. Metal ornaments produced in the 10th century by the Proto-Bulgarian art industry were found during the excavations. The metal objects were discovered on the ground surface and up to 70 cm in depth. Their total number reached 146, including the objects discovered by chance and bought by the Shumen Museum. The first group of objects includes belt appliques with various shapes and decoration, while the second group includes objects related to the production process on the site: predominantly lead production moulds, but also few dozens ingots and scrap that remained after the moulding. Two ornithomorphic amulets, four conical and pyramidal seals with depicted animals, a pendant, six fragmentary crosses, a book clasp, four finger rings, buttons, weights and nodules were also found. A specialized production center related to Veliki Preslav, the second Bulgarian capital, functioned on the site during the 10th century.