EXPLORATIONS NEAR THE VILLAGE OF RUPKITE (Petar Kalchev – kalchevp@abv.bg, Dimitar Yankov) Two mediaeval pits dug into the ground were explored in sector A. Small amount of archaeological material was found in the pits: mainly pottery and animal bones. Other pits dug into the clay ground were discovered, too. Sherds, loom weights, animal bones, etc., dated to the Late Iron Age (5th – 1st century BC), were found in the pits. An ellipsoid construction dug into the ground was explored in sector B. It measures 25 m by 12 m and is oriented east – west. The construction was filled with ash, charcoal, sherds, intact ceramic vessels, burnt lath-and-plaster, small ceramic models of a wheel, animal bones, terracotta loom weights, bronze pins, etc. There are pits dug into its bottom, containing intact ceramic vessels and animal bones. Platforms of small stones, sherds, fragments of burnt lath-and-plaster, animal bones, etc. were discovered within the construction. Presumably, the construction was a ritual ditch of the Late Bronze Age (1600 – 1050 BC). Secondary pits of the Late Iron Age were dug into the ellipsoid construction. An ellipsoid pit containing material of the Late Neolithic Culture Karanovo IV – Kaloyanovets was discovered in sector B. Two conflagrated houses of the Early Chalcolithic period (Culture Maritsa), which belonged to an open settlement, were explored. A Hocker burial of the Late Chalcolithic period (Culture Karanovo VI) was discovered, too. A stone axe-hammer with a bone handle was placed on the chest of the deceased.