ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS NEAR TVARDITSA (Krasimir Velkov – dakras@abv.bg, Tatyana Kancheva–Ruseva) The explorations in the northern half of Tumulus No. 1 continued. It belonged to a necropolis of six tumuli. Ritual pit No. 25 was discovered. It had a beehive shape and was 1.50 – 1.70 m in diameter and 76 cm in depth. A fire burned on its bottom or embers were placed there. The ritual pit cut the surrounding circle of stones that was documented in the eastern half of the tumular embankment. Two inhumation graves (Nos. 66 and 92) were thoroughly explored and two more (Nos. 98 – 99) were discovered. Thus the total number of the graves discovered so far reached 99. Grave No. 98 was oriented northwest – southeast and grave No. 99 was oriented southwest – northeast. The deceased were laid supine, with their heads to the northwest and southwest. Charcoal was discovered in the burial pits. The graves dated to the 4th – 5th century AD.