ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS NEAR THE VILLAGE OF ORLOVO (Galina Grozdanova – galina_grozdanova@mail.bg ) The site was situated in the foot of the northern slopes of the Eastern Rhodope Mountains. Thirty sondages were carried out. A sunken-floored house, 3.06 m by 2.86 m in size, with an oven, was explored. Remains of other structures and pits were also documented. The finds included sherds of the 10th – 12th centuries, including from glazed and sgraffito pottery, two copper coins of the 12th century, small knives, arrowheads, terracotta spindle whorls, a finger-ring, a belt buckle and an earrings. A fibula of the Viminacium Type of the end of the 4th – 5th century AD was also found. A Mediaeval settlement existed on the site.