EXPLORATIONS NEAR THE VILLAGE OF SOKOL (Krassimir Leshtakov – leshtakov@abv.bg, Georgi Katsarov, Nadezhda Todorova, Vanya Petrova) A Late Chalcolithic (late 5th millennium BC) stratum, cut by Mediaeval Christian graves, was discovered in the southern periphery of the settlement mound. Debris of a burned house was explored. The pottery and the finds are related to the end of Karanovo VI Culture. The exploration of the stratum of the Early Bronze Age II continued in the southern part of the settlement mound. A building of the 2nd – 3rd centuries AD was discovered in the western part of the excavated area. The building cuts the upper layers of the Bronze Age. A strip of sun-dried bricks, 3.30 m in length and 1.20 – 1.50 m in width, probably remains of collapsed wall, was discovered in the central part of the sector. A floor with burned layer was explored below the sun-dried bricks. Debris of strata I – II of the Early Bronze Age (3500 – 1900 BC) were registered in trench L 7. The remains of stratum I are up to 25 cm in thickness. The remains of stratum II have traces of fire. A ceramic vessel, a small ceramic vessel, a bone pin, a dolium, etc. were found. Stratum II had at least two stages that covered a long occupation period. The ovens and the hearths of strata I – II and II – III are overlapping, which testifies to continuity in the settlement planning. Hearths and dolia were discovered in trench M 10 in stratum III. The walls and the bottoms of the dolia were repaired, which shows that they were used for an extended period. A ditch with two stages of functioning, 0.70 – 1.10 m in width, was registered in trench L 10. There were postholes arranged along the ditch. The postholes are 10 – 25 cm in diameter, more than 60 cm in depth, some of them plastered with clay. The pottery from the ditch dates to the Early Bronze Age I. The finds from the excavations include ceramic vessels from the beginning of Early Bronze Age II, tools of flint, stone, bone and horn of deer, a mould for bronze pins, etc.