EXPLORATIONS NEAR THE VILLAGE OF GALABOVO (Borislav Borislavov – b_borislavov@hotmail.com) The site is situated on a rock massif accessible from the northwest. During previous explorations, iron slag, an iron nail and part of a small iron knife were found on the southern slope. A flint nucleus and a copper scyphate (Bulgarian imitation of type C) of the first decades of the 13th century were found on the southwestern slope. Hand- and wheel-made pottery was also found. According to the materials discovered, the site was occupied during the Late Bronze Age (1600/1500 – 1100 BC), the Early Iron Age (11th – 6th centuries BC), Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages (12th – 14th centuries). In 2007 the explorations were conducted on the highest part of the site and parts of the southern slope. An area of 750 sq. m was explored. Sector North and Center. There is a leveled rock platform on the highest part of the site. Remains of a chapel, 8 m by 6.50 m in size, were explored on the platform and around it. A probable posthole cut into the rock, 30 cm in diameter and 15 cm in depth, was registered in the building interior. A stone pavement was discovered. Two iron crosses, mediaeval pottery, including a fragment of sgraffito pottery of the 13th – 14th century, and melted glass were found. Debris of surrounding wall was discovered around the chapel. Sector South. Mediaeval sherds, an iron arrowhead, an iron neckpiece for dog, three iron buckles, a gilded bronze belt appliqué, a horseshoe, nails and iron slag were found. Southeastern Slope. A hoard of 79 coins was found: five gold Byzantine coins, 73 silver Venetian coins and a hardly recognizable silver coin. The earliest coin is a grosso minted by the Venetian Doge Pietro Ziani (1205–1229), while the latest one is a hyperpyron minted by the Byzantine Emperors Andronikos II Palaiologos and Andronikos III Palaiologos. The coin hoard was hidden around the middle of the 14th century, probably during the Ottoman invasion in the Rhodope Mountains.