ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS NEAR THE VILLAGE OF VASKOVO (Georgi Nehrizov – nehrizov@gmail.com, Stanislav Iliev) Six dolmens were registered. Dolmen No. 2 is situated in the center of a tumulus measuring 90 cm in height and 16 m in diameter. The tumular embankment consists of stones, but single millstones also occurred. The dolmen is oriented north – south. The lower slabs from the walls of the burial chamber are preserved. Twelve slabs from the façade are situated at c. 1 m in front of the chamber. The chamber had a trapezoid cross-section and the levelled bedrock served as its floor. The chamber measures c. 1.95 m by 1.40 m and is c. 1.30 m in height. There were no traces of burial inside the chamber and only small quantity of sherds was found. Sherds and cremated human bones were discovered in front of the façade. An arch of a boat-like fibula, two spiral finger-rings and a ring were found in the upper layer of the tumular embankment. The pottery originate predominantly from the area in front of the façade and date to the second phase of the Early Iron Age (8th – 6th centuries BC) and to the Late Antiquity (3rd – 4th centuries AD). There were fragments of dishes, cups, jars and an amphora among the hand-made pottery of the Early Iron Age, while the wheel-made Late Antique pottery include fragments of amphorae, cups and dishes. A dolmen-like grave built of four vertical slabs is situated at 20 m to the northwest of dolmen No. 2. The chamber measures c. 1.30 m by 65 cm and is oriented northwest – southeast. It is surrounded by a small tumular embankment, c. 5 m in diameter and 40 cm in height. The finds are similar to those found during the exploration of dolmen No. 2. The presence of Late Antique pottery may indicate that the constructions were reused and may be related to the ancient settlement situated nearby.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS NEAR THE VILLAGE OF VASKOVO (Georgi Nehrizov – nehrizov@gmail.com, Stanislav Iliev) The dolmen-like cist grave No. 6 was explored. The four slabs shaping the walls of the chamber and the roofing slab were preserved. The cist grave is oriented north – south. Another vertical slab is situated in front of the southern wall and it probably belonged to another part of the burial construction, which is not preserved. Sherds of the Roman period were found in the embankment around the burial chamber. An oval outer core of uneven stones surrounds the chamber. Hand-made pottery of the second phase of the Early Iron Age (8th – 6th centuries BC) was found. Disturbed human bones were found in the chamber. The bones belong to three individuals: a child c. two years old, a man over 20 years old and probably a woman over 20 years old. A single-chamber dolmen No. 11 was explored. It is situated in the center of a tumulus, which is 8 m in diameter and 70 cm in height. The burial chamber is oriented east – west. Sherds of the Roman period were found in the embankment around the dolmen. The outer core of uneven stones surrounding the chamber is c. 6.50 m in diameter. Hand-made pottery of the second phase of the Early Iron Age was found. Four slabs, probably belonging to the façade of the dolmen, were discovered in the eastern periphery of the outer core of stones. The pottery from the Early Iron Age includes sherds from biconical dishes decorated with stamped ornaments, cups and jugs with cannelures on their necks, and pots with prick ornaments and decoration in relief. The discovery of Roman pottery in all burial constructions from the necropolis, which were explored until now, could be related to their later re-use, not necessarily for secondary burials.