EXPLORATIONS IN CHERVEN (Stoyan Iordanov – stojan_jo@abv.bg) The exploration of the residence of the bishop of Cherven during the Early Ottoman period was accomplished. The residence was burned most likely during the military campaigns of Mihai Viteazul, Prince of Walachia, at the end of the 16th century. The southwestern surrounding wall of the complex, its connections with the neighboring walls and the area between them and church No. 11 were explored. Four burial chambers cut into the rock near the western wall of the church and in front of its western entrance were discovered. Two of them most likely were used as a family tomb. The chambers contained mixed human bones from different individuals and were reused for multiple burials after the complex was abandoned and a cemetery appeared on its place. A burial of a middle age man without grave goods was discovered in chamber No. 3. Spherical buttons from older burials, a skull with an imprint of copper or bronze jewelry and another skull with a hole of a bullet were found in the chamber. The southwestern surrounding wall of the complex is identical with the northern and the southern. It is 12 m in length and was built of uneven stones with a bonding medium of mud. The wall has a shallow foundation within a layer containing material of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (12th – 14th centuries). Only parts of the wall are preserved at one course in height. The entrance of the complex most likely was in its southern corner, which adjoins the main street of Cherven. The finds include sherds, fragments of candlesticks, a bronze appliqué showing St. Mary Hodegetria, a tile with incised cross and inscription IC–XC/NI–KA, a gem, coins, etc., and show that the area was inhabited until the beginning of the Ottoman period.