ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS IN THE MARKELI FORTRESS (Zhivko Aladzhov, Dimcho Momchilov – karnobat.muzey@mail.bg, Rositsa Hristova) The explorations of the eastern fortification wall continued. The entrance of the fortress and the southeastern corner tower were documented. The fortification tower was built in opus mixtum and was identical to the northeastern corner tower and the two intermediate towers Nos. 17 and 18. A room, adjacent to the eastern fortification wall and tower No. 17, was explored. Judging from the numerous iron tools (knives, awls, axes, nails, etc.), which were found inside the room, it was a workshop. The foundations of another room, 70 cm wide, were discovered to the south of tower No. 17. A drainage trench, 40 cm high, 27 cm wide and 5 m long, was explored in the fortification wall. The explorations of the strata in the area between the church and the eastern fortification wall continued. The materials of the 11th – 12th centuries prevailed. Septic pits Nos. 3 and 4 were documented. They contained iron nails, agricultural tools and pottery of the 11th – 12th centuries. The explorations of the western fortification wall continued. The finds included sherds of the 9th – 12th centuries, a bronze appliqué of the 9th – 10th century, a lead stamp of the 11th century, two coins, etc.