ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS NEAR BYALA (Valeri Yotov – valeri.yotov@gmail.com, Alexander Minchev) A building was discovered to the south of the basilica and judging from its location in the architectural complex and the finds discovered, it was probably the house of the head priest. The building was 16 m by 5.30 m in size, with walls 50 – 55 cm wide, and probably two-storey. Two floor levels of trampled clay were documented, and five dolia dug out into the ground and a hearth were discovered. The finds from the building included Early Byzantine amphorae, terracotta lamps, fragments from glass cups and a jug, copper coins of the 5th – 6th centuries AD, a gold solidus of Phocas and a gold finger-ring. A pit was explored in Trench LIV–21, 3.80 – 4 m in diameter, containing sherds from cups, bowls and pots of the 1st – 2nd century AD. A pottery kiln, 3.80 m by 2.20 m in size, was explored to the north of the basilica and at 5 m to the northwest of Baptistery No. 2. A midden pit for waste pottery was discovered in front of the opening of the fire box. A rectangular well, 1.50 m by 1.50 m in size and over 5 m in depth, was discovered at 7.50 m to the northeast of Baptistery No. 2. The explorations close to the lighthouse continued. Two rooms of the 6th – beginning of the 7th century AD were explored. Walls of a building, probably a temple, with several escharai were documented under the Early Byzantine stratum. The finds from the building included over 12 copper coins of Mesambria and Odessos of the 3rd – 2nd centuries BC.