ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS IN PESHTERA (Boni Petrunova – boni_boon@abv.bg) Three dolia covered with stone slabs were discovered in the nave of the church, close to the dolia found in 2007. A layer with traces of fire, containing fragmentary glass cups and a loom weight, was explored in the nave. Three dolia were discovered in the area between the entrance of the fortress and the entrance of St. Petka Church. Dolium No. 5 contained animal bones, fragmentary building ceramics and an iron cowbell. Dolium No. 6 contained small iron plates (probably from scale armor), sherds and burned animal bones. The wall of a building adjoining the eastern fortification wall was documented to the northeast of the entrance of the fortress. A street, 1.50 – 2 m wide and parallel to the fortification wall, was documented during the excavation of the rooms situated to the north of the southern fortification wall. Other smaller streets, oriented north – south, crossed it. The foundations of a bi-partite room with an entrance 80 cm wide and situated on its southern wall were explored. A section, 18.70 m long, of the eastern fortification wall was discovered. The fortification wall was 2.10 m wide and was preserved at 2.64 m in height. Originally, it was c. 14 m high. Reconstructions, carried out later than the 6th century AD, were documented at the jambs of the entrance of the fortress. During the excavations, 27 coins were found. Two coins deserved attention: a coin of 10 nummi minted by Justinian I, which later, during the reign of Justin II, was counterstruck in Thessalonica as a follis (40 nummi) due to inflation; a coin of 20 nummi struck in the 5th year, which according to the inscription was minted by Tiberius II Constantine, but shows Justin II and Sophia on its obverse. A silver-plated cross of the 9th – 10th centuries, showing the image of St. Gregory the Theologian, was found.