The archaeological excavations of 2008 undertaken in the ancient city of Hadrianopolis were once again centered in the urban area, to the north of the theatre, specifically in the habitation complex known as the multi- phase public structure. The excavations suggest that the first phases of occupation of the site date to the 2nd Century BC, while the public structure which consists of a series of rooms organized around an opened courtyard was built in the 2nd Century AD. In two of the rooms, the excavations identified traces of the suspensurae – brick piers holding a suspended floor which covered an area where warm air circulated (hypocaust). These rooms seem to belong to a thermae, part of the large construction complex. To the western side of the structure (outside its walls), the archaeological layers related to this period did not reveal any structural traces, indicating for an open space, functioning probably as a porticus post scaenam of the theatre. The other next phase consists of deep levels of destruction and wall removal. The excavation data showed that in the beginning of the 6th Century, other new structures were built above these layers, including also a large public structure located in the open area, between the theatre and the thermae. Its orientation, which is different from the other structures, and the location at the central of the habitation area, suggests a church.
In almost all the excavated sectors, layers of shattered walls were found, which suggest for a possible destruction of the habitation area during the mid 6th Century AD. The discovery of some other walls, hastily built above the destruction layers, indicates that during the 7th Century AD, the settlement of Hadrianololis continued to be occupied, though of another and essentially rural character.