EXPLORATIONS OF THRACIAN TUMULI NEAR THE TOWN OF PRAVETS (Tatyana Borisova – tatqna_borisova@abv.bg) Two tumuli, which belong to a tumular necropolis spread over an area of 400 – 500 m, were explored. A pile of stones, with ellipsoid layout and measuring 1.30 m by 0.60 m, and a ritual pit, 45 cm in diameter and 25 cm in depth, situated at 50 cm to the southeast of the pile, were explored on the ground level to the south of the center of tumulus No. 3. No archaeological material was found. Small-size charcoals and sherds of the 4th – 3rd centuries BC were found in the tumular embankment above the pit. A second pile of stones, 2 m in diameter, was discovered in the central part of the tumulus. No archaeological material was found, with the exception of separate sherds in the tumular embankment above the pile. A third pile of stones with circular layout, 55 – 60 cm in diameter, and with sherds and separate small-size charcoals was discovered in the northeastern periphery of the tumulus. Sherds of the 4th – 3rd centuries BC were found in this part of the tumular embankment. A burnt layer containing two hearths without archaeological materials was discovered at 55 cm in depth in tumulus No. 13. Sherds of the 4th – 3rd centuries BC were found in the tumular embankment. Some rituals, which involved fire and breaking and throwing ceramic vessels, were performed at certain stage of the tumulus’ construction. Both tumuli were constructed in the second half of the 4th or more probably in the 3rd century BC.