ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS NEAR TVARDITSA (Krasimir Velkov – dakras@abv.bg) The building situated close to the outer fortification wall was explored. The building covered an area of 33 sq. m and probably was two-storeyed. Its walls were constructed of mortared stones with incorporated timber beams. Part of the building was situated over a destroyed structure of the 5th – 6th centuries AD. The finds included iron needles, a knife with a bone handle, whetstones, arrowheads and coins: mostly Bulgarian and Latin imitative coins. The building dated to the second half of the 13th century and was destroyed by a fire. Human bones from three adults were also found in the building. Part of the inner fortification wall 2.20 m wide, built of well-cut stones bonded with mortar and with incorporated timber beams, was explored close to the outer southeastern corner of the building. The inner fortification wall surrounded the citadel situated on the highest place in the fortress. The finds discovered along the fortification wall included coins: Bulgarian and Latin imitative coins, a copper coin of the Bulgarian King Ivan Shishman minted after 1380, a copper mangir of Sultan Murad I, arrowheads, an iron hook from a quiver, belt appliqués, fragmentary building ceramics and sherds. The explorations of Structure No. 1, 4.50 m by 3.50 m in size, continued. The finds included sherds, including a bottom from a sgraffito bowl showing a bird, animal bones, charcoal, whetstones, terracotta and stone spindle whorls, two bronze finger-rings, arrowheads and an iron hook from a quiver. The animal bones from the excavations were 30% from wild animals and 70% from domestic animals and belonged to red deer, deer, fallow deer, boars, rabbits, foxes, bears, wolves, jackals, pigs, oxen, sheep, goats, a horse and fishes.