ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS OF A TUMULUS NEAR THE TOWN OF TVARDITSA (Krasimir Velkov – dakras@abv.bg, Tatyana Kancheva–Ruseva, Veselin Ignatov) The explorations continued for the eighth archaeological season. Parts of the southern and northern halves of the tumulus were explored during the previous seven seasons. Three circles built of stones, with a diameter of c. 10 m each, were discovered. A small mound of stones that covered a grave of a Thracian aristocrat was excavated within the tumulus embankment. The burial dates to the 4th – 3rd century BC. In addition, 15 cremation burials of the 2nd – 3rd centuries AD, 74 inhumation burials of the 4th – 5th centuries AD and 23 ritual pits dated before the 4th – 5th centuries AD were discovered. In 2005, a stone construction with an oval layout, measuring 6.10 m by 5.80 m and 80 cm in height, was explored in the northeastern sector of the tumulus. The stones were bonded with mud and single charcoals were found among them. No pottery and other archaeological material were discovered. The stone construction is earlier than the Thracian grave of the 4th – 3rd century BC. In addition, four inhumation burials and one ritual pit were excavated. Two silver bracelets, a silver earring, a silver clasp and three glass beads were found in grave No. 91. The excavated graves date to the 4th – 5th centuries AD.