ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS NEAR THE VILLAGE OF PET MOGILI (Veselin Ignatov – ignatov_v@abv.bg, Krasimir Velkov, Tatyana Kancheva–Ruseva) The Golyamata Mogila tumulus is 6.40 m in height and 50 m in diameter and belongs to necropolis of four tumuli. The explorations were concentrated in the southwestern sector of the embankment with a grave construction destroyed by clandestine digs. The grave construction was dug into an earlier tumulus of the Late Bronze Age (1600 – 1100 BC), 26 m in diameter and 2.30 m in height. A circular pit, 80 cm in depth, was dug. A rectangular pit, measuring 4.50 m by 3.50 m and 40 cm in depth, was dug into the circular pit. A pit measuring 2.70 m by 1.50 m was dug on its bottom. A wooden sarcophagus, measuring 2.50 m by 1.30 m and 90 cm in height, was constructed inside the pit. The remains of the cremated deceased were placed in the sarcophagus alongside the grave goods. Then the pit was filled with stones and a small mound of stones plastered with clay was built above it. Fragments of iron chain-armour, a silver handle of cup, fragments of gilded scabbards and swords, spearheads, bronze arrowheads, pieces of leather, and small gold cassettes, rosettes and a clinch were found in the grave. The burial dates to the second quarter of the 5th century BC. Funerary rituals were carried out on an area 20 m in diameter and fragments of Greek amphorae and red-figure jugs, Thracian wheel- and hand-made pottery, cooked bones and ash were found. The tumulus was piled above this area. A second cremation burial was discovered. The cremated bones were collected in an urn, which was placed in the tumular embankment. Fragments of two iron fibulae and a knife were found among the cremated bones. The burial is contemporary to the main rich grave. Ten secondary Christian burials without grave goods were discovered in the tumulus.