ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS IN PLISKA (Stoyan Vitlyanov – stoyan@shu-bg.net, Konstantin Konstantinov) The explorations on site No. 41 in the Outer Town of Pliska showed that from the south building A ended with rectangular room No. 8 that measures 21.70 m by 4.60 m. The room has identical structure to the rest of the buildings in the architectural complex and its floor is paved with slabs. A basin for mortar mixing, constructed of slabs, was discovered at 3.60 m to the north of room No. 8. The basin measures 2.10 m by 1 m; its surrounding rim is 20 cm in height and 15 cm in width. Room No. 7 in the southwestern part of building A was discovered. It is rectangular and measures 18.50 m by 2.90 m. Building D oriented east – west and consisting of adjacent rooms arranged in a line was discovered at 12.90 m to the south of kiln No. 1 and at 40 – 60 cm in depth. Its outer wall is 75 cm in width and is built of uneven stones bonded with mortar. Two rooms were explored. Room No. 1 measures 6.70 m by 3.70 m. Room No. 2, which measures 3.10 m by 3.70 m, was explored to the east of room No. 1. Building D stretches to the east, outside the supposed limits of the architectural complex. Most likely, from the west building D is connected to building B located in the western part of the complex. The finds from the excavations include fragmentary Proto-Bulgarian pottery, a pot covered with green glaze, tiles, locks of doors, an iron key, a sickle, an iron casing of a cart, nails, etc. Site No. 41 dates to the 10th – 11th centuries and was used for farming activities.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS IN PLISKA (Stoyan Vitlyanov – stoyan@shu-bg.net, Konstantin Konstantinov) The explorations were concentrated in the eastern part of site No. 41 in the Outer Town of Pliska, on the place where one of the rooms of building D was discovered in 2004. The cultural stratum inside the building interior contained stones of the collapsed walls and a mortar plaster from the floor level. Building D is 17.20 m in length and 5 m in width. It consists of three adjacent rooms arranged in a line from the west to the east. Room No. 1 lies in the western end and measures 5.70 m by 3.60 m, room No. 2 measures 3.10 m by 3.60 m and room No. 3 measures 5.75 m by 3.60 m. The foundations of the building lie down to 60 – 70 cm in depth. Building E was discovered at 2.50 m to the south of building D and has a П–like layout. Its wall is 80 cm in width and its construction is related to building D. However, both buildings were constructed in different periods. Building E is open to the south and measures 4.70 m by 3.50 m. A pavement of slabs was discovered in the western part of square No. 182, at 60 cm in depth. It measures 8.70 m by 0.80 m and lies in front of the façade of the monumental buildings located in the center of the architectural complex. Remains of a similar pavement of slabs were uncovered in front of the eastern façade of building B. The pavement extends alongside the eastern façade of building C and connects with the pavement in front of the façade of building B. Finds of the 10th – 11th centuries were discovered within building D and E and around them: weapons, objects related to daily activities, adornments of clothes, etc.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS IN PLISKA (Stoyan Vitlyanov – stoyan@shu-bg.net, Konstantin Konstantinov) The excavations were carried out between buildings B and D in the central part of the complex. An extension of the pavement situated in front of the eastern façade of building B was discovered at 60 cm in depth in trenches Nos. 157 and 158. The pavement measures 9.90 m by 4.50 m. It is oriented north – south and is situated alongside the eastern wall of building B. Two bifurcations of the pavement to the east provided connection with buildings D and E. A path of stone slabs with curb stone, 1.19 m in width, was discovered. It begins from the northeastern corner of building C and runs alongside the long side of the pavement, oriented south – north. The explorations in trenches Nos. 132, 133 and 134 showed that the pavement and the path continued in eastern direction. Fragmentary bricks and tiles, fragments of ceramic vessels with incised decoration or glazed, a terracotta spindle whorl and an iron arrowhead were found in the layers situated over the pavement and around it. A number of animal bones were also found. The finds confirm the date of the complex to the 10th – beginning of the 11th centuries. The results from the explorations show that during that period a square covered with pavement existed in front of the façades of buildings B and C, in the central part of site No. 41. The bifurcations of the pavement reached buildings D and E to the east.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS IN PLISKA (Stoyan Vitlyanov – stoyan@shu-bg.net, Konstantin Konstantinov) The explorations of Site No. 41 in the northwestern part of the Outer Town of Pliska began in 1982. The results show the existence of an architectural complex of the 10th – 11th centuries AD. The excavations continued to the north and northeast of the pavement situated in the center of the complex and discovered in 2006. Fragmentary bricks, tegulae, imbrices, sherds and iron nails were found. The extension of the pavement in the eastern direction was discovered. The extension is northwest – southeast oriented and is 12.10 m in length and 1.20 – 1.40 m in width. There is a curb stone, 9 cm in width and 10 m in height, from the southern side of the pavement. The pavement branched out in northern direction at 2.30 m in length. Fragments of a marble stele with a partly preserved Greek inscription of the 5th – 6th centuries AD was reused in the branching of the pavement. The preserved inscription reads: ΦΡΑΓΙСЄΝΤΙΜΠΑ. Room F was discovered. The construction was built of uneven stones bonded with mud. The southern wall is built of uneven stones and is 4.64 m in length and 27 cm in width, and the western wall is 4.28 m in length and 27 cm in width. The room was covered with tegulae and imbrices. An ellipsoid stirrer for mortar, measuring 1.10 m by 2.20 m, was discovered. It is surrounded by curb stone. The finds from the excavations include sherds of the 10th – 11th centuries AD, iron craft tools, a lead ingot, part of a bronze cross, a bronze appliqué, an iron arrowhead, etc. The explorations confirmed that the central part of Site No. 41 was a square with pavement. The pavement and its extensions most probably connected the buildings in the central part of the complex with the parallel buildings arranged in a line and situated in the periphery.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS IN PLISKA (Stoyan Vitlyanov – stoyan@shu-bg.net, Konstantin Konstantinov) The archaeological excavations of Site No. 41 situated in the northwestern part of the Outer Town of Pliska had begun in 1982 and had revealed the existence of an architectural complex of the 10th – 11th centuries. The present explorations were concentrated to the north and northeast of the pavement in the yard of the complex, discovered in 2006 – 2007. The finds include fragmentary bricks, mortar plaster, tegulae, imbrices, pottery, iron nails, hinges, hooks for doors and locking devices, probably related to the parallel farm rooms arranged in a line and situated to the north of the yard. The pavement situated to the east, parallel to the long northern wall of Building D located in the center of the complex, was discovered. According to the data from the explorations, there was a square paved with limestone uneven stones, situated in the central part of Site No. 41. The pavement and its extensions connected the buildings situated in the center of the complex with the parallel buildings arranged in a line in the periphery. The northern transverse wall of a shelter protecting an oven was documented in square 88. Iron nails were found. The southern face of Room No. 1 of Building A located in the northeastern corner of the complex was discovered. The wall was constructed in rubble masonry with a bonding medium of mud and was preserved up to 45 cm in height. Sherds, fragmentary roof tiles and bricks were found. A place for stirring mortar was explored in square 110. Probably, it was related to the building of the surrounding walls of the complex. The finds from the explorations include sherds of the 10th – 11th centuries, a bronze bracelet, a bronze finger-ring and an iron ox shoe.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS IN PLISKA (Stoyan Vitlyanov – stoyan@shu-bg.net, Konstantin Konstantinov) The explorations were carried out in parallel rooms A6, A7, A8 and A9, arranged in a line in Site No. 41, which is situated in the northwestern part of the Outer Town of Pliska. Traces from fire were documented in room A9. The finds included sherds of the 9th – 10th centuries, a lead exagia, two finger-rings with engraved images, iron rings from chainmail, a bronze belt point, fragments of iron slag, fragmentary bricks, tegulae and imbrices. The floor of the room was paved with stone slabs with an average size of 80 cm by 40 cm by 15 cm. Room A8, 18.85 m by 4 m in size, situated in the southwestern corner of Site No. 41, was explored. The finds included sherds from three glazed vessels (one pitcher and two pots), displaying the engraved symbol of the proto-Bulgarian Khans: IYI on their mouths. Room A7, 4.20 m by 2 m in size, was explored. Its walls were 80 cm wide. There was entrance, 70 cm wide, on the eastern wall of the room and it led towards the interior of the architectural complex. Traces from fire were documented. The finds included sherds from pots with incised decoration and fragments from imbrices displaying the symbol IYI. Room A6 was explored and traces from fire were documented. Tegulae and imbrices from the collapsed roof of the building were discovered. The finds included sherds, two fragments from bronze crosses and a small bronze bell. The parallels rooms arranged in a line in the southern periphery of the architectural complex were workshops, while the rooms in the western wing were used for storage. The architectural complex dated to the end of the 9th – 10th centuries.

PLISKA (Stoyan Vitlyanov – stoyan@shu-bg.net, Konstantin Konstantinov) The explorations of Site No. 41 in the northwestern part of the Outer Town of Pliska began in 1982. An architectural complex of the 10th – 11th centuries was discovered and over 10 rooms were explored. In 2010, the excavations were carried out in the western wings of the complex. The layer in Room A6 contained fragmentary roof tiles and sherds, including sherds from two pots and a dish with green glaze. The room measured 11.50 m by 4 m, its walls were constructed of stone slabs bonded with mud and were preserved at 70 – 80 cm in height. There was an entrance, 1 m wide, situated in the southeastern corner of the room and directed towards the yard. During a later period, the entrance was closed with a wall. Two pits were explored in Rooms A6 and A7, containing small pieces of charcoal, animal bones, sherds and slag. Building F of the end of the 9th – 10th century was discovered at 1 m to the west of Room A6. Its walls were constructed in rubble masonry and were 75 cm wide, preserved up to 40 cm in height. The building consisted of parallel rooms arranged in a line. Room No. 1 was discovered, 4.80 m by 3.85 m in size. Sherds, fragmentary terracotta water-conduits, two bronze finger-rings, an iron hook for a door, an iron arrowhead and an iron awl were found in the room. Room No. 2 measured 4 m by 3.85 m and was situated to the west of Room No. 1. Sherds, one of them with a graffito showing the Proto-Bulgarian symbol: IYI, were found in the room. Sherds, animal bones, a Roman bronze coin, an iron horseshoe and a small iron knife were found in Room No. 3. A pavement of slabs was discovered in front of the eastern and southern façades of Building F. Fragmentary tegulae and imbrices were found.

PLISKA (Stoyan Vitlyanov – stoyan@shu-bg.net, Konstantin Konstantinov) The explorations of the architectural complex of the 10th – 11th centuries continued. Over 10 rooms (living rooms and stores) were discovered so far and pottery and metal objects were found. Room F2 was situated to the west of the room explored in 2010 and measured 3.80 m by 3.90 m. Its walls were constructed of roughly-cut stones bonded with mud and were 75 cm wide, preserved up to 40 cm in height. Traces from fire were documented and roof tiles, sherds, belt appliqués, coins, jewelry and animal bones were found. Room F3 measured 6 m by 3.90 m and was the largest one in Building F consisting of parallel rooms arranged in a line. Its construction was identical to the other rooms. Sherds, pieces of slag, a lead spindle whorl, iron nails and animal bones were found inside the room. The exploration of the pavement of ashlars, located to the east of Room A1 continued in Trenches 40 and 41. The finds in the room included tegulae, imbrices, sherds, an iron hook for a door, an iron ring and animal bones. A room, 3 m by 2.80 m in size, was discovered at the inner corner of the pavement. Fragmentary roof tiles, bricks and fragmentary burned plaster were found in the room. A dome-like kiln, 85 cm by 85 cm in size, was discovered in the southeastern corner of the room. Explorations were launched at 40 m to the south of Room A8 in the area of the outer surrounding wall of the architectural complex. A neck of a jug with a graffito IYI, which is a proto-Bulgarian symbol, and a bronze earring were found. A wall, 70 cm wide, was documented.

PLISKA (Stoyan Vitlyanov – stoyan@shu-bg.net, Konstantin Konstantinov) Site No. 41 was an architectural complex of buildings consisting of parallel rooms arranged in lines and situated along the inner periphery of a yard surrounded with stone wall. The complex dated to the end of the 9th – first decades of the 11th centuries and covered an area of c. 1.5 ha located in the northwestern part of the Outer Town of Pliska. The exploration of the building consisting of parallel rooms arranged in a line continued in the southern part of the complex. Building G was discovered. Its walls were constructed of stones bonded with mud and were 60 cm wide. The finds comprised sherds, a terracotta spindle whorl, a lead weight, a bronze coin of Gordian III, an iron knife and a bronze finger-ring. A stratum containing proto-Bulgarian sherds and animal bones was documented under Building G. A path paved with stone slabs, 1 m wide, parallel to Building G and situated at 2.25 m to the south, was explored.

PLISKA (Stoyan Vitlyanov – stoyan@shu-bg.net, Konstantin Konstantinov) The architectural complex of the 9th – 11th centuries included buildings consisting of parallel rooms arranged in lines and situated along the periphery of a rectangular yard surrounded with wall. It covered an area of c. 1.5 ha and was situated in the Outer Town. Adjacent parallel rooms H1 and H2 built in rubble masonry were explored adjoining the inner side of the eastern surrounding wall. Room H1 measured 6 m by 4.20 m. Animal bones and proto-Bulgarian sherds were found. Room H2 measured 6.20 m by 4.20 m. Proto-Bulgarian sherds and animal bones were found.

PLISKA (Stoyan Vitlyanov – stoyan@shu-bg.net, Konstantin Konstantinov) The explorations of the eastern and southern outer surrounding wall of the architectural complex, situated to the north and to the west of the parallel rooms arranged in a line in the southeastern sector, continued. The wall was 1 m wide, built of stone slabs bonded with mud. Tegulae and imbrices were found in the Eastern Sector. In the Southern Sector, the explorations of Building H3, situated along the southern surrounding wall of the complex, continued. The building was 14 m long and consisted of two rooms equal in size. The finds from the building included animal bones, sherds from pots and amphora-like jugs, tegulae and imbrices, pieces of slag, an iron hook of a door, craft tools and a follis of Leo VI the Wise and Alexander. A layer with traces from fire was documented. The suburban estate dated to the 9th – 11th centuries.

PLISKA (Stoyan Vitlyanov – stoyan@shu-bg.net, Konstantin Konstantinov) The excavations of Site No. 41 of the 10th century, situated in the northwestern part of the Outer City, continued. In the southeastern sector of the outer yard of the complex, Room b2 was entirely explored. It measured 2.20 m by 3.10 m, with walls 80 cm wide built of stone slabs bonded with mud, and adjoining the western side of Building H3 consisting of parallel rooms arranged in a line. Sherds and animal bones were found in the room. Room b2 was identical to Room b1 situated in the interior of the building. The storage pit discovered in 2014 was explored. Part of it was situated beneath the foundations of Building H3. The pit had a quadrilateral layout, 2.20 m by 2.65 m in size, and was 1.20 m deep with steps. It contained sherds from proto-Bulgarian pottery, roof-tiles, burned animal bones (including skulls and horns), pieces of charcoal and slag. The explorations of the southern surrounding wall of the architectural complex, discovered in 1986 and partly explored in 2012, continued. The total length of the discovered section of the wall was 23.60 m. Adjacent buildings consisting of parallel rooms arranged in a line were documented.

PLISKA (Konstantin Konstantinov – konstantinov_k_t@yahoo.com, Gergana Ilieva, Ivailo Kanev) The exploration of the surrounding wall of the architectural complex continued to the north of the parallel rooms arranged in a line, which were excavated in 2014 – 2015 and were situated in the southeastern sector of the outer yard. Sondages were carried out in Rooms H1 and H2 and to the west of Room H3. An earlier dugout was documented. The excavations of the trenches launched in 2011 continued in the northeastern part of the inner yard of the architectural complex. The pavement continued to the south and was built of stone slabs. The building documented in 2011 was entirely excavated. It measured 7.60 m by 3.80 m and there were ashlars with postholes situated in its corners and in the middle of the southern and the northern walls. The floor was plastered with mortar. The building was a chapel with a narthex, 1 m by 3.80 m in size, a nave, 4.40 m by 3.80 m in size and a semicircular apse. A later oven was discovered in the nave. The excavations of the building consisting of parallel rooms arranged in a line were launched. It was later than the other buildings in the architectural complex. Two of the rooms were excavated, 3.80 m by 4 m in size. The foundations of the walls were 80 cm wide. Earlier foundation trenches with postholes were documented in the northeastern part of the inner yard. Pit No. 6 was discovered; it destroyed part of the stone pavement and contained sherds, fragmentary building ceramics, pieces of mortar, charcoal, a fragment from an ashlar with graffiti, a fragment from tegula with an image of a bird, three bronze finger-rings and a bronze belt buckle. Pottery Kiln No. 3 was explored to the southeast of Pit No. 6. The structures discovered during the excavations dated from the mid 9th to the end of the 11th centuries AD.

PLISKA (Konstantin Konstantinov – konstantinov_k_t@yahoo.com, Gergana Ilieva, Ivailo Kanev) The excavations continued in the northeastern corner of the inner yard of the architectural complex. The pavement of stones to the south of the church was dismantled. The exploration of the eastern line of the outer surrounding wall of the architectural complex continued. The occupation in the excavated area dated from the second half of the 9th to the end of the 11th centuries AD.