CHERVEN (Stoyan Iordanov – stojan_jo@abv.bg) The narthex and part of the nave of Church No. 16 were explored, built of ashlars bonded with mortar. The narthex measured 5.10 m by 2.70 m and had two entrances. The floor was plastered with mortar. Fragments from frescoes of the lowest decorative line were preserved on the walls of the narthex and the nave. The frescoes in the narthex showed a white drapery with floral decoration, while the frescoes in the narthex probably showed geometric figures. A grave was discovered close to the northwestern corner of the church and three graves were excavated in the southwestern corner of the nave. The grave goods included spherical copper buttons. The church was built at the end of the 13th – first half of the 14th century. During the Early Ottoman period in the 15th century, this part of the town was abandoned.