ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS NEAR THE VILLAGE OF DALBOKI (Maria Kamisheva – maria_ivanowa@abv.bg) The explorations were carried out because of clandestine digs. The Taushan Tepe tumulus is 6.50 m in height and 42 m in diameter. The grave is situated in the southern half of the tumulus, at 3.20 m in depth. It is oriented east – west and measures 2.82 m by 1.32 m. The grave is built of bricks (square bricks measuring 34.5 cm by 34.5 cm and rectangular bricks measuring 34.5 cm by 15 cm) bonded with mortar. The inner side of the grave is plastered with pink mortar. The treasure-hunters have destroyed the two short walls of the grave and have removed the bricks from its floor. Fragments of tegulae were found in the earth excavated by the treasure-hunters. Probably, the grave was covered with tegulae. Most likely, the burial was an inhumation: fragments of skull and an elbow joint were found in the earth excavated by the treasure-hunters. The grave goods include an iron flint and steel dated to the 3rd – 4th century AD and a handle of ceramic amphora or jug dated after the mid 3rd century AD. The grave could be dated to the first half of the 4th century AD.