ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS NEAR THE VILLAGE OF DOLNA SEKIRNA (Philip Mihailov – philip.mihaylov@gmail.com) The explorations were carried out on the terrace on the northern slope of Sveti Petar peak. A rock sanctuary was discovered and partly explored. It functioned during the second stage of the Early Iron Age (7th – 6th centuries BC) and during the Roman period (2nd – 4th centuries AD). The ritual gifts were placed in natural rock vesicles. The total number of the explored vesicles is 33: five date to the 7th – 6th centuries BC and the rest come from the Roman period. Some vesicles of the 7th – 6th centuries BC were disturbed and reused during the 2nd – 4th centuries AD. Coins of the Roman period were buried around vesicle No. 30 containing Early Iron Age sherds. One of the coin hoards displays the usual form of the votive offerings during the Roman period: it was placed on the rock and was covered with several stones. Vesicle No. 20 is filled with richly decorated sherds of the Early Iron Age. Vesicle No. 21 is filled with sherds of large plain vessels and a bronze spiral from the Early Iron Age. Votives of the Early Iron Age placed on a leveled rock platform surrounded with stones were found in trench No. 2. A pile of sherds, charcoal and ash was found in its center. A single-spiral fibula and a spiral wire were found in its northern and southern periphery. The decoration of the Early Iron Age pottery is typical of the so-called ‘Basarabi Style’. The coin hoards of the 2nd – 4th centuries AD buried in the sanctuary include coins with small denominations.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS NEAR THE VILLAGE OF DOLNA SEKIRNA (Philip Mihailov – philip.mihaylov@gmail.com) The explorations that began in 2006 continued in 2007. The excavations were carried out on a natural terrace on the northern slope of Sveti Petar Peak. The explored area was 57 sq. m. A pile of pottery, containing a bronze finger-ring, was discovered on the bedrock in trench No. 16. No occupation stratum is preserved on the cult site. Several pieces of iron slag were found. The votive gifts were deposited either on the bedrock, or in the rock clefts and cavities. The sanctuary was situated on a large area of the northern slope of the peak.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS NEAR THE VILLAGE OF DOLNA SEKIRNA (Philip Mihailov – philip.mihaylov@gmail.com) There is a limestone rock on the highest point of Sveti Petar peak, with “rock-cut thrones” on its eastern side. In 2006 – 2007, the explorations were concentrated on the northern slope. Sondages were carried out on an area of 152 sq. m. During the second phase of the Early Iron Age (8th – 6th centuries BC) and the Roman period, rituals were performed on the peak. In 2008, an area of 47.25 sq. m was explored. A sondage was carried out on the southern slope, below the rock. Early Iron Age activities were documented: the rock was used for depositing pottery and bone (a boar tusk) votive offerings. Sondage B1 was carried out from the northern side of the peak. A primitively constructed curb stone of an ancient road was discovered. The sacred meaning of Sveti Petar peak is still preserved among the local people; sacrificial offerings on the day of St. George were performed on the peak.