ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS NEAR PERNIK (Vasilka Paunova – vasder@gmail.com) The tumulus is situated northwest of the Krakra Fortress. It is 15.20 m in diameter and 1.25 m in height. The tumular embankment consists of stones and earth. There were modern excavations on it. Secondary mediaeval Christian graves of three adults (graves Nos. 1, 3 and 4) and one adolescent (grave No. 2) were explored in the tumulus. The arms of the deceased were crossed on their chest or abdomen. Remains of wooden coffins were registered in two of the graves. A small bronze chain was found in grave No. 1 and five bronze appliqués were found in grave No. 4. The graves date to the 11th century. A funerary pyre, measuring 4.20 m by 4 m, was explored in the center of the tumulus, 20 cm above the ground level. Four postholes, 40 cm in diameter and 35 cm in depth, were discovered in the four corners of the pyre. Vertical burned beams, measuring 14 cm by 10 cm, were discovered in the postholes. The beams were surrounded with small stones, which packed the space in the postholes. A rectangular funerary bed, oriented southwest – northeast, was placed over the beams. Cremated human and horse bones were found in the pyre. The grave goods include a La Tène iron sword with a scabbard, two machairae, two spearheads, an iron umbo, an iron bilateral fibula, two iron spurs, bronze and iron rings, two ceramic cups and an iron horse bit. Sherds from an amphora and Hellenistic vessels were found around the remains from the cremation. The burial dates to the 2nd century BC. After the cremation, the tumular embankment was piled over the remains of the pyre.