ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS IN THE BOTANICAL GARDEN OF VARNA (Hristo Kuzov – kouzov@bulstar.net, Katerina Sokolova) The Botanical Garden covers an area of 36 ha. The sondage carried out in 2004 was widened and the house was almost entirely discovered, with the exception of its southeastern periphery. The building had at least two periods of occupation. A floor level covered with a plaster of mortar was discovered on an area of c. 5 sq. m within the house. A dolium was found from the northern side of the room, under the debris of stones and tiles. Fallen stones and tiles, originating from the demolished building, were discovered from its southern side. Coins minted by Macrinus and Diadumenianus, Arcadius, Iustinus I and Phocas were found. In addition to the other finds discovered during the excavations, the coins allow us to suppose that the site was inhabited for a longer period, presumably with some interruptions, from the second quarter of the 3rd century AD until the beginning of the 7th century AD. An Early Christian tomb, known from the 1970s, is situated near the building. It has a rectangular layout and a barrel-vaulted roof. The floor of the tomb is covered with a plaster of mortar. No human remains or grave goods were found. The walls were constructed of roughly cut stones with a bonding medium of mortar. The joints were plastered and were outlined with two incised parallel lines. The barrel-vault was built of stones and bricks. The bricks measure 31 cm by 31 cm by 5 cm. The entrance is from the west and was closed with a stone slab. The burial chamber measures 2.70 m in length by 2.40 m in width by 1.85 m in height. The entrance is 85 cm in height and 55 cm in width.