ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS OF A THRACIAN CULT SITE NEAR VELINGRAD (Daniela Katincharova – dkatincharova@abv.bg) The area to the south of the sanctuary precinct, which is surrounded with a stone wall, was explored. A pile of two – three courses of stones, presumably a place for deposition of votive gifts, was discovered. Stones arranged in three rows, which find parallels in numerous Thracian cult sites, were discovered under the pile. Two of the rows are parallel and are oriented east – west, being situated close to the south from the clay hearth, the plaster and the pit at the southern surrounding wall of the sanctuary. The third row is oriented north – south and lies to the west of these structures. The stone pile and the rows of stones, as well as the stone altar situated to the south, lie on the lowest layer of the cultural stratum consisting of burnt soil. The stone structures belonged to one and the same stage of the functioning of the sanctuary during the Late Iron Age (5th – 1st centuries BC). This stage was preceded by an earlier one, also within the Late Iron Age, which is related to the clay plaster and the hearth at the southern surrounding wall of the sanctuary. The earlier structures lie on the continental terrain under the lowest layer of burned soil.