ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS NEAR THE VILLAGE OF VELICHKOVO (Metodi Daskalov – m.m.daskalov@mail.bg, Ivan Sotirov) The site is located on a hill, which provides excellent possibilities to observe and control Via Diagonalis. Over 40 clandestine excavations, each over 8 – 9 sq. m in size, were documented. Dolia were preserved in situ in two clandestine excavations. Four sondages on a total area of c. 50 sq. m were carried out. A corner and an entrance of a room were discovered in Sondage A. Its western wall is c. 6 m long and its southern wall was discovered at 3.50 m length. A pavement of stone slabs was preserved at some places. The cultural layer contained fragmentary roof tiles and dolia. Two coins were found: the first one dates to the second half of he 4th century AD and the second is a follis minted by Justin II and Sophia. A corner of a building constructed of stones bonded with mortar and adjacent walls with a bonding medium of mud were documented in Sondage B. Fragmentary tegulae, imbrices and dolia were found. Folles minted by Justinian I and by Justin II and a coin dated to the second half of the 4th century AD were found in Sondage G. The fortification dates from AD 350 to AD 590, when the Avar and Slav attacks in the Balkans forced the inhabitants of the smaller settlement to withdraw to towns and fortresses, which were better protected.