EARLY MEDIAEVAL TUMULI NEAR THE VILLAGE OF KONYOVETS (Rasho Rashev, Georgi Atanasov, Stanimir Stoichev – s_stoichev@mail.bg, Yuri Iorgov) There are four tumuli located to the north of Shumen and arranged in quadrangle oriented to the four cardinal points. The tumuli are 25 – 30 m in diameter and 4 – 4.50 m in height. Tumuli Nos. 1 and 4 were explored. Tumulus No. 1 was commemorative and no grave construction was discovered inside. Charcoal, early mediaeval sherds and animal bones were found in the tumular center. Tumulus No. 4 was a burial construction. Charcoal, early mediaeval sherds and animal bones were found in the tumular center. A grave oriented to the north was discovered to the southwest of the tumular center. The dead was placed in a wooden coffin. There was an iron sabre close to his left hand, and a set of silver buckle, point and belt appliqués was found on his pelvis. Two gold earrings were also found. Silver adornments of horse trappings, a pair of iron stirrups, a horse bit and a buckle of a leather strap were found outside the coffin. A ceramic jug was placed close to them. A horse skin with legs, head and tail was discovered close to the feet of the deceased. The burial dates to the 8th century AD. The anthropological analysis shows that the dead person was a young man, 20 – 22 years old. The rich grave goods and the horse sacrifice show the high social status. The deceased was a proto-Bulgarian aristocrat. The grave confirms the information in the letter of Pope Nicholas I to the Bulgarian Prince Boris I (852 – 889 AD), regarding the custom of burying the deceased in tumuli.