EXPLORATIONS NEAR SMYADOVO (Stefan Chohadzhiev – s_choha@abv.bg, Svetlana Venelinova) Fourteen graves of the Chalcolithic period (5th millennium BC) were discovered in an area of c. 0.1 ha. Most often the deceased were placed in a Hocker position on the left side with head directed to the east, but also in a Hocker position on the right side with head directed to the west. Three graves were destroyed by later activities. Ceramic vessels, most of them not well fired, stone, flint and copper tools (stone axes, a small copper cotter, etc.), beads of serpentinite and Spondylus, and jewelry of copper and gold were found in 11 graves. Seven graves contain pieces of ochre and three graves – small snails. Adults were buried in graves Nos. 008, 010, 011, 013 and 016, a young individual in grave No. 015 and a child in grave No. 014. The head of the deceased in grave No. 008 is directed to the southeast. Both hands are placed in front of the face. A stone axe was placed in front of the face, while one of the vessels contains more than 80 beads of serpentinite. The head of the deceased in grave No. 013 is directed to the northeast. Both hands are placed in front of the face. A stone axe was found behind the chest and a half of a ceramic vessel was placed between the elbows and the knees. The head of the deceased in grave No. 015 is directed to the east. Ochre and small charcoals were found behind the skull, over the pelvis and under the right shoulder. There are two ceramic vessels at the right leg. A spiral copper bracelet was found on the right arm. A small copper axe was found on the chest.