ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS IN PERNIK (Vasilka Paunova – vasder@gmail.com) The explorations of the Late Antique and Early Christian cemetery continued and 22 Christian burials were discovered. The grave good included coins placed close to the heads of the dead. Two ceramic vessels dated after AD 350 were found in Graves Nos. 71 and 80. In addition, cremated animal bones were discovered in Grave No. 71 and a skeleton of a bird was found in Grave No. 80. The dead in Graves Nos. 61, 62 and 74 were wrapped in shrouds. Sherds and cremated animal bones were found in the three graves. In addition, a coin of Constantine the Great minted in AD 320 – 324 and a coin of Constantine II minted in AD 324 – 330 were found in Grave No. 61. Grave No. 79 was covered with wooden boards and a coin of Theodosius I was found close to the skull of the dead. The dead in Grave No. 69 was covered with roof-tiles arranged as a ridge roof. The dead in the later burials of the 5th century AD were laid in wooden coffins or over wooden boards. A child was buried in Grave No. 57 of the 5th century AD and the grave goods comprised copper earrings, glass beads, a button and a bronze bracelet. Small pieces of charcoal were found in all burial pits, probably remains from purifying rituals with fire. Thracian sherds of the Late Iron Age were found on the site as well.