ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS NEAR THE VILLAGE OF OVCHARTSI (Plamen Karailiev – umbo@abv.bg) In 1958, a hoard of 3272 Byzantine copper coins of the 12th century was found on the site. Thirty-three sondages were carried out over an area of c. 0.2 ha. Two pits and a domestic oven were explored. A semi-dug sunken-floored house and a farm building, 38 m x 20 m in size and with two entrances c. 2 m wide in the northeastern and the southwestern corners, were partially explored. Judging from the coin hoard of 1958, the sherds and two coins found during the excavations, the settlement dates to the 12th century.