EXPLORATIONS NEAR APOLLONIA (Rumen Mikov – rumen_mikov@mail.bg) Tumulus No. 9 is 32 m by 38 m in diameter and up to 4.50 m in height. The tumular embankment is surrounded with a krepis, 24.50 m in diameter. Its wall is 90 cm in width and is preserved up to 80 cm in height. The wall has an outer face of ashlars and an inner side of uneven stones, with a core structure of stones. A partly destroyed tomb was explored in the central part of the tumulus. The tomb has a П-like layout oriented east – west and is open to the west. Its preserved length is 9.70 m and its width is up to 3.80 m. The walls are 90 cm in width and are preserved up to 1.80 m in height. They have two faces with a core structure of stones. Fragments of amphorae and Corinthian-type tiles (one of them with a stamp ΚΛΕΟΓΕΝΕΟΣ) were found in the tomb. According to the finds, the tomb dates after 325 – 320 BC. Most likely, the roof of the tomb was covered with tiles, while a dromos leading to an entrance in the krepis presumably existed in its western part. Two cist graves were explored in the western end of the tomb. The first one measures 1.87 m by 0.80 m and is 58 cm in depth. It contained sherds, charcoal and a layer of ash. The second grave measures 1.95 m by c. 1 m and is 65 cm in depth. It contained human bones and sherds. A krater covered with an ichthye was discovered close to the krepis. It contained remains of cremation burial and an iron strigilis. A hearth containing sherds and an iron knife was explored in front of the krepis. The finds from the excavations include fragments of black-gloss pottery (ichthyai, kantaroi, a gutus, dishes, an aryballos and lekythoi) and amphorae from Thasos and Herakleia Pontica dated to the last quarter of the 4th – first quarter of the 3rd centuries BC. Some black-gloss vessels date after the middle of the 3rd century BC.