MALKOTO KALE FORTRESS (Stefan Bakardzhiev – st_bakarjiev@abv.bg, Yavor Rusev) The excavations continued in the yard of the fortress. A layer of debris 55 – 80 cm was explored. A level with traces from fire was documented beneath and two arrowheads of the 11th – 12th century were discovered. Sherds from glazed pottery and kitchenware of the 12th century were found beneath the fire, including a plate of the Bulgarian Sgraffito Type. The exploration of the northern gate of the fortress was completed. The gate was 1.52 – 1.58 m wide and 2.20 m long, equal to the width of the fortification wall. During a later construction period, a passage was built at the southern inner side of the gate, 2 – 2.10 m wide and 1.55 m long. A bronze coin of Alexios I Komnenos and a Byzantine lead seal of the end of the 11th – beginning of the 12th century were found inside the mortar floor of the passage.