MALKOTO KALE FORTRESS (Stefan Bakardzhiev – st_bakarjiev@abv.bg, Yavor Rusev) The excavations continued along the inner side of the northern fortification wall, which was 2.20 m wide. A postern was discovered, 1.55 m wide. Two rooms were excavated, 2 m by 1 m and 1.75 m by 1 m in size, adjoining the inner side of the fortification wall and situated to the west of the postern; their walls were built of roughly-cut stones bonded with mortar and were 60 – 65 cm wide. A staircase leading towards the top of the northern fortification wall was discovered, 2.25 m wide. Part of the yard of the fortress was explored; its floor was plastered with mortar. A layer with traces from fire, 10 – 15 cm thick, was discovered above the floor. A row of stone slabs, 60 cm by 80/90 cm in size, situated at 1.50 – 1.75 m apart and at 3.50 m in front of the rooms adjoining the western fortification wall, was excavated. The slabs served as bases of monumental timber posts that supported a portico. The fortress had at least three construction periods and functioned during the 11th – 12th centuries. A bronze spur of the 12th century was found.