CHERVEN (Stoyan Iordanov – stojan_jo@abv.bg) The explorations of Church No. 13 built at the end of the 12th – beginning of the 13th century continued. A stratum was documented, containing sherds of the 12th – 16th centuries, animal and fish bones, pieces of iron mill-bars, glass melts, copper coins – mostly Latin and Bulgarian imitative coins of the end of the 12th – beginning of the 13th centuries, fragments from glass bracelets. Burial No. 4 was discovered. Two strata with sherds mostly of the 13th century, charcoal, nails and human bones were discovered to the north of Church No. 13. The strata continued beneath the western wall of the church which shows that it was constructed over destroyed earlier graves. Burned beams from a timber shelter or a timber bell tower destroyed by a fire were discovered. The fire destroyed the church of the first construction period; it probably occurred during the Mongolian invasion in 1241, or in 1278 when the town was conquered by the Byzantine army under the command of Michael Glavas Tarchaniotis. Two burials were discovered in front of the entrance of the church: the first one belonged to a child under 3 years old and the second one to a girl under 15 year old with grave goods (a gold earring, a bronze finger-ring and two spherical copper buttons). A pile of reburied human bones was discovered close to the burials. Two more burials of small children and two burials of adults were discovered as well. Another grave from the Christian cemetery that preceded the construction of the church was discovered under its floor in front of the altar.