EXPLORATIONS NEAR THE VILLAGE OF POMOSHTNIK (Ventsislav Dinchev – vdintchev@abv.bg) Remains of a complex consisting of buildings and constructions spread over an area of 0.2 – 0.3 ha are situated on the site. A building with at least five rooms and an inner yard, with a total area of more than 300 sq. m and oriented northwest – southeast, was explored in the northwestern sector “A”. The inner yard measures 9.80 m by 8.70 m. The foundations of the walls are constructed of uneven and roughly cut stones with a bonding medium of mud, 60 – 70 cm in thickness. Most likely, the walls were built of lath-and-plaster or boards plastered with clay. The roofs of the rooms were covered with tegulae and imbrices. The finds include nails, cramps, millstones, pottery, terracotta weights, a spindle whorl, jewelry and c. 10 copper coins (the latest one minted in AD 367 – 370). Residual finds from earlier periods were also found. The building functioned during the 4th century AD and was burned during the Gothic invasions in the AD 370s. A square fortification tower was explored in the central sector “B”. Its inner size is 4.30 m by 4.30 m and its walls are c. 1.60 m in width. The foundations of the tower are built of uneven stones bonded with mortar. The walls were constructed of ashlars and their faces were plastered with mortar. The tower is synchronous to the building in sector “A”. Iron slag was found in the cultural stratum between the building and the tower. It shows the existence of a forge. The architectural complex could be identified as a burgus with additional residential and farm buildings.

EXPLORATIONS NEAR THE VILLAGE OF POMOSHTNIK (Ventsislav Dinchev – vdintchev@abv.bg) The exploration of the building with the inner courtyard continued in sector A. There is an anteroom to the east of the courtyard. It measures 16.80 m x 3.40 m and has an entrance, 1.60 m wide, which is central for the building. There is a pavement of slabs in front of the entrance. Iron slag and ash were found in the anteroom. A forge functioned there. The entrance between the anteroom and the inner courtyard is 1.50 m wide. Room No. 2 was explored. It has two entrances towards the anteroom and the inner courtyard, which are 1.45 m wide. Part of room No. 3 was explored. It has two entrances towards the anteroom and the inner courtyard, which are 1.20 m and 1.45 m wide. Room No. 5 is isolated from the rest of the building. It is 4.80 m by 4.50 m in size. The building has two more rooms: No. 6, which is 9.30 m by 4 m in size, and No. 7, which is 3.40 m by 4 m in size. Both rooms are located to the south of room No. 2 and the anteroom. The building is c. 375 sq. m in size. It is built of stones bonded with clay, while the upper parts of the walls were constructed of sun-dried bricks. Fragmentary tiles, nails and clamps from the roofing constructions were found. The building was used for occupation and for farming activities. The finds include millstones, mortaria, dolia, knives, scissors for shearing, a cow-bell, pottery, including fragmentary red-gloss vessels, glass vessels, spindle whorls, loom weights, a terracotta figurine with human face and c. 20 copper coins of the 4th century AD. Part of the building was reused after the fire that occurred during the AD 370s. The tower was explored in sector B. The tower measures 4.30 m by 4.30 m and its foundations are 1.55 – 1.60 m wide. The northern wall of the building adjoins the northern corner of the tower. The architectural complex is interpreted as a burgus with an adjoining building for occupation and farming activities.