ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS NEAR BALCHIK (Lyudmila Doncheva–Petkova – ldoncheva_petkova@abv.bg, Kircho Apostolov, Evgenia Komatarova–Balinova) Forty-four graves (24 inhumations and 20 cremations) were discovered in an area of 360 sq. m. The cremation graves were chambers (4 graves) and burial pits. Two burial chambers were constructed of cut limestone, while chamber No. 227 was built of bricks. The burial chambers have an almost cubic shape and oriented according to the four cardinal points. Three pots were found in chamber No. 226 and a ceramic pail was found in chamber No. 247. The burial pits are mostly rectangular, with some ellipsoid and circular. The pits measure 45 – 70 cm by 30 – 55 cm. Rectangular burial pit No. 232 was surrounded by stones. The most common grave goods in the pits were pots and jugs. A B-shape iron belt buckle dated to AD 625 – 675 was found in grave No. 243. Eight of the inhumation graves were rectangular and trapezoidal pits oriented north – south. The skeletons were laid supine. The deceased in grave No. 255 was in Hocker position with folded legs and stretched arms. Graves Nos. 231, 239, 240, 248 and 258 were marked with gravestones. All of them, in addition to graves Nos. 261, 262 and 263, contained sacrificed dismembered animals (cows, calves, sheep, lambs and a piglet). Eggshells were found in graves Nos. 236 and 239. Two individuals were buried on top of each other in cist grave No. 224. The grave goods from the inhumation burials included pots, jugs, bowls, an iron knife, an iron ring and lamb knucklebones.