EXPLORATIONS OF TUMULI NEAR THE VILLAGE OF ELENOVO (Veselin Ignatov – ignatov_v@abv.bg, Tatyana Kancheva–Ruseva, Krasimir Velkov) Almost entire embankment of Tumulus No. 1 was explored during the past five archaeological seasons. Fifty-five graves were discovered: one from the Late Iron Age (5th – 1st centuries BC), six from the second half of the 4th century AD and 49 from the 11th – 14th centuries. A small mound of stones in the center of the tumulus, a krepis, a stone construction surrounded by the krepis, and four circles built of stones were excavated. The area in the tumulus’ center that is surrounded by the first circle was explored. A platform was cut out on the bedrock. A trench with a L–shaped layout is situated in the center of the platform and nine postholes were discovered close to the trench. The excavations in 2005 were concentrated between and outside the circles. Six graves were discovered in the tumulus’ periphery, four of them of the Middle Ages. A pot was found in grave No. 60 and glass bracelets and a glass bead – in graves Nos. 58 and 59. The two other graves contain cremation burials and date to the 3rd – first half of the 4th century AD. A set of small amphora and cup was found in each of them. Exploration of Tumulus No. 2 began. It is 1.10 – 1.30 m in height and 16 – 17 m in diameter. A clandestine dig was carried out in 2004. Fragments of burnt clay plaster and sherds were found in the earth excavated by the treasure-hunters. A sondage beginning from the clandestine dig was carried out. A pile constructed of stones and fragmentary hand- and wheel-made Thracian pottery of the Late Iron Age were discovered. A platform of burnt clay plaster, 10 – 15 cm in thickness, was explored to the east of the stone pile. Sherds and a jug dated to the Early Iron Age (11th – 6th centuries BC) were found on the platform. In addition, three secondary mediaeval Christian graves were excavated in the tumulus.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS NEAR THE VILLAGE OF ELENOVO (Veselin Ignatov – ignatov_v@abv.bg, Tatyana Kancheva–Ruseva, Krasimir Velkov) The explorations of the tumuli began in 1998. Almost the entire embankment of tumulus No. 1 was explored during the previous six archaeological campaigns. A burial construction of the Late Iron Age, eight graves from the second half of the 4th century AD and 53 mediaeval Christian burials of the 11th – 14th centuries were discovered. A mound of stones in the center of the tumulus, a krepis, a construction of stones inside the krepis, a layer of stones enclosing the embankment, 14.50 m in diameter and 0.80 – 1.15 m in height, four circles of stones and the tumulus center surrounded by the inner circle of stones were explored. In 2008, the explorations were concentrated in the area outside the circles of stones, in the southeastern sector of the tumulus. Sherds from the Late Iron Age and fragmentary burned plaster were found in the tumular embankment. A mediaeval grave was explored. A pot placed on the pelvis of the deceased was found. The excavations of tumulus No. 2 continued. Three secondary mediaeval Christian graves, a pile of stones of the Late Iron Age and a platform of burned plaster of the Early Iron Age were explored in the southeastern sector until now. In 2008, the excavations were concentrated in the southern half of the tumulus. A mediaeval grave was explored. The explorations of the platform of burned plaster continued. The plaster extends into the southwestern part of the tumulus. Sherds from the end of the first and the second phase of the Early Iron Age (9th – 6th centuries BC) were found. The burned plaster belonged to a ramshackle building that was set to fire. The pile of stones in the center of the tumulus was explored. Sherds from imported Greek red-figure pottery, small pieces of cremated bones and small pieces of charcoal were found in the structure destroyed by the treasure-hunters.