EXPLORATIONS NEAR THE VILLAGE OF VODEN (Stefan Bakardzhiev – st_bakarjiev@abv.bg) During the first construction period (5th – 6th centuries AD), a quadriburgium, its four sides being 32 m, 33 m, 29 m and 30 m long, was built. The second construction period dated before the end of the 12th century. The outer face of the circular bastion, situated in the northwestern corner of the fortification and preserved up to 2.30 m in height, was explored in sondage No. 2. During the first construction period, the bastion was 5.50 m in diameter and was built of roughly cut stones bonded with mortar. During the second construction period, the bastion was reinforced with an outer wall 2 m wide and built of stones bonded with mortar, with one course of bricks that leveled the structure. Thus the bastion became 10.60 m by 9.70 m in size. The northern fortification wall, preserved up to 2.10 m in height, was built of roughly cut stones bonded with mortar. Sherds of Late Antique amphorae were found. Building No. 1, 5.55 m by 4.75 m in size, was discovered in sondage No. 3. The building adjoined the inner northwestern corner of the fortification and had two entrances. Its walls were preserved up to 2.10 m in height and were 1 m wide. Their lower part, 70 cm in height, was constructed of roughly cut stones bonded with mortar and their upper part was built of courses of bricks with timber pallets incorporated. Decorative plaster was documented on the walls. Building No. 2 was situated a 1.10 – 1.20 m to the south of Building No. 1. The northern wall, 4.75 m long, and part of the eastern wall were explored. There was an entrance in the northern wall. The walls were 80 cm wide and preserved up to 1.65 m in height. Their lower part, 70 cm in height, was constructed of stones bonded with mortar and their upper part consisted of 10 courses of bricks with timber pallets incorporated. Decorative plaster was documented on the walls. A layer with traces from fire, 50 cm thick, was explored. It contained a pot of the middle of the 11th – beginning of the 12th century and a sgraffito bowl of the end of the 12th – beginning of the 13th century. Street paved with a layer of mortar was discovered to the east of the buildings.