ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS IN CHERVEN (Stoyan Iordanov – stojan_jo@abv.bg) The sector located to the north of church No. 11, excavated in 1979, was explored. The earliest occupation period dates to first half of the 13th century. An L-shaped groove cut into the bedrock, which was part of technological construction, testifies to the craft activities. The period ended with a fire. The second occupation period dates to the second half of the 14th century and is synchronous to church No. 11. The area to the north of the church was overbuilt. Two parallel buildings, consisting of one room and oriented northeast – southwest, were discovered. The first building is 4.20 m in length and 3 m in width. The length of the second building cannot be specified, but its width is 4.20 m. The walls of the buildings are 70 cm in width and are constructed of uneven stones bonded with mud. The buildings were burnt. Remains of a third building were discovered to the southwest of them. Rectangular pits with unclear function were dug into the bedrock in the southern parts of both buildings. The finds include coins minted by the Bulgarian kings Ioan Alexander and Ioan Shishman, spindle whorls, a knife, a tool consisting of spatula and knife, a pan of scales, buckles and sherds of the 13th – 14th centuries. The buildings were used both for living and for craft activities. The third occupation period dates to the beginning of the Ottoman rule. The grave chambers cut into the rock outside the church were used for multiple burials. Bones of unspecified number of reburied individuals of both sexes were found in the graves, in addition to intact burials. After the grave chambers were filled up, part of the bones were reburied in a pit. Two burials were found close to the pit, most likely belonging to a new cemetery.