SONDAGE EXPLORATIONS IN THE REDAKA 2 CAVE (Stefanka Ivanova – ivanova.stefanka@gmail.com) The sondage explorations continued. Flint artifacts of the Middle and the Upper Paleolithic periods and bones of cave hyena were found in 2005. During the period 40 000 – 30 000 BP, an expansion of the hyena was attested in the caves in Europe and transitional flint assemblages occurred. The replacement of the Middle Paleolithic cultures related to Neanderthals with the Upper Paleolithic cultures related to Homo sapiens sapiens happened in that transitional period. Sondage No. 2 was carried out at 1.50 m from sondage No. 1 of 2005, in the direction towards the cave interior. Sondage No. 2 had an area of 2.50 sq. m, while the depth of 1.85 was reached. Five litho-stratigraphic layers were distinguished. According to the osteological material, a variety of big mammals were typical of the region: Lynx spelaea, Panthera spelaea, Crocuta crocuta spelaea, Canis lupus, Canis cf. Familiaris, Vulpes vulpes, Ursus arctos, Ursus spelaeus, Cervus elaphus, Capreolus capreolus, Megaloceros giganteus, Capra sp., Rupicapra rupicapra, Caprinae, Bison priscus, Bos primigenius, Bos Taurus, Mammuthus primigenius, Equus caballus, Equus hydruntinus, etc. This fauna testifies to a relatively cold climate and a steppe, but not arctic environment. The flint artifacts originated from layers Nos. 4 and 5. A flint production waste and chips prevailed. A fragment of retouched flint plate and two retouched pieces were found in layer No. 4 and a retouched plate was found in layer No. 5. Both flint plates show the features of the Late Paleolithic technique.