ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS IN THE EASTERN NECROPOLIS OF ABRITUS (Galena Radoslavova – galena_rz@abv.bg) During the 1930s, there were 14 tumuli in the necropolis of Abritus but nowadays only three are still visible. A funerary complex was discovered during rescue excavations. A barrel-vaulted tomb, oriented north – south and with an outer size of 5.60 m by 2.80 m, is situated in the eastern part of rectangular building, 6.10 m by 6.80 m in size, constructed of uneven stones bonded with mortar and mud. A limestone sarcophagus, oriented east – west and covered with a ridge-roofed slab with acroteria, is situated at the western outer wall of the tomb, at 44 cm from the southern façade and at the floor level. Part of a second sarcophagus, placed on two ashlars and oriented east – west, was discovered at 20 cm to the east from the first one, at the level of the tomb vaulting at 2.85 m in height and near the middle of the wall. A broken terracotta altar was discovered at 40 cm to the south of the southwestern corner of the southern façade and at the foundation level. Sherds of handmade pottery were found among the altar fragments. The funerary complex was simultaneously built: first, the tomb was built and the building surrounding it was constructed, while sarcophagus No. 2 was placed later. Presumably, sarcophagus No. 1 existed before the tomb construction and was reused. The tomb dates to the end of the 4th – first half of the 5th century AD.