ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS NEAR BANSKO (Katya Melamed – katjamelamed@yahoo.com) Christian cist graves were discovered in Sector South of the cemetery, covered either with stone slabs, or with tegulae, and oriented east – west. The graves contained Late Antique sherds and pieces of charcoal. Fragmentary wattle-and-daub with traces from fire, some painted in white, was discovered in some burials. The fragmentary wattle-and-daub was most probably intentionally placed inside the graves. An iron insertion and bones from sheep were found in Grave No. 27. Iron fragments most probably from umbo were discovered in Grave No. 30. Bronze appliqués from a military belt of AD 280 – 340 were found in Grave No. 33. Ritual Structure C for commemorations was discovered; it was a rectangular chamber with a hearth, surrounded with stone slabs. The cemetery dated to the 4th – 5th centuries AD.