EARLY CHRISTIAN BASILICA IN DUROSTORUM (Georgi Atanasov – geoatal@abv.bg, Dragomira Boeva) The basilica is situated in the central part of Durostorum: at c. 250 m to the south of the castellum built in the 4th century AD and at c. 200 m to the north of the fortified camp of the XI Claudius’ Legion. Part of the central nave, the apse, the narthex and the atrium were explored. The basilica is a three-nave and single-apse, with a non-segmented narthex and precincts. The total length of the basilica is 27.50 m and the width is 15.30 m. The inner length of the nave is 21 m and the inner length of the narthex is 2.50 m. The length of the atrium is c. 15 m. The central nave is 6.20 m in width and the side-naves are c. 3.10 m in width. The central nave is separated from the side naves by two rows of seven columns, 40 cm in diameter, with bases standing on monumental stylobates. The walls of the basilica are 80 cm in width and their foundation lies at 1.70 m in depth. The altar space is one-step higher than the rest of the interior and is paved with marble. Fragments of a marble altar screen and a marble pulpit were found in front of the apse. The narthex lies at 50 cm higher than the level of the nave and is paved with panels of rectangular and hexagonal bricks. The building technique is opus mixtum. The basilica was built after the mid 4th century AD, since a burnt layer dated by pottery and coins (the latest ones minted by Constantine II and Valentinianus I) was discovered below its foundations. The coins found below the pavement date to the first half of the 4th century AD. Most likely, the basilica was constructed in the end of the 4th or the first half of the 5th century AD. Remains of earlier buildings, which were burnt, were discovered during the exploration of the apse.