ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS NEAR THE VILLAGE OF SOKOLYANE (Georgi Nehrizov – nehrizov@gmail.com) The tumulus was c. 50 cm high and 20 – 24 m in diameter. Remains from funerary feasts were discovered in the tumular embankment: patches of charcoal and piles of sherds from cups, jugs, dishes, bowls, krateroi and amphorae. Four burial pits were dug into the bedrock below the tumulus, filled with thick layers of charcoal. One of the graves (Structure 11) was situated in the center of the tumulus, while the others were in the western (Structures 8 and 10) and southern periphery (Structure 5) of the tumular embankment. The burial pits were ellipsoid, 1.10 – 1.50 m long, up to c. 80 cm wide and 15 – 20 cm deep, oriented east – west. Ceramic vessels with cremated human bones were placed in the western end of two of the graves. A krater was placed in Structure 5, containing an amphora, two small bowls, a glass vessel, a small iron knife and cremated human bones. Two ceramic vessels were discovered to the northwest of structure 8, placed in each other and containing cremated human bones. Two small dishes and a jug with pierced bottom were placed close to the northwestern side of Structure 11. The cremations were carried out inside the burial pits. The paleobotanical analysis of the burned timber showed that it was predominantly oak. After the cremations, the ashes were collected in ceramic vessels placed close to the burial pits (Structures 5 and 8), or collected in ceramic vessels placed over the layer of charcoal (Structure 11). The burials belonged to children. A fragmentary dolium (Structure 2) was discovered in the northern periphery of the tumulus, containing a cup, a jug, a small dish, and bones from a newborn baby at c. 36 weeks of gestation, probably a premature fetus. Judging from the pottery, the burials in the tumulus dated to AD 150 – 250.