ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS NEAR SOZOPOL (Petar Leshtakov – junior_1_bg@yahoo.com) A sondage was carried out on an area of 42 sq. m. A structure dug into the ground, consisting of three interconnected pits, was documented. The central pit measures 5.40 m by 4.60 m and is 80 cm in depth. The other two pits are 45 – 55 cm in depth. A pile of clay plaster from a hearth or oven was discovered in the central pit. A pile of fragmentary burned clay wall plaster, sherds, animal bones and tools were found in the northeastern pit. The pottery has cannelures, pricked and painted decoration and decoration in relief, and dates to the end of the Late Neolithic period (end of the 6th – beginning of the 5th millennia BC). An area of c. 315 sq. m was explored. Nine trenches from the ancient period, oriented east – west, 50 – 80 cm in width and dug into the prehistoric stratum, were documented. They are interpreted as being related to agricultural activities. A burned Late Neolithic house, 10.50 m by 5.20 m in size, was explored. Fragmentary burned clay wall plaster, a rectangular oven, grain storage, a millstone and Late Neolithic sherds were discovered. A sondage, 7.50 m by 4 m in size, was carried out. A ditch with V-like cross section, 2 – 2.30 m in width and 60 – 80 cm in depth, was registered. Fragmentary burned wall clay plaster, millstones, a whetstone, pestles, flint artifacts, bone awls, Late Neolithic sherds, etc. were found inside the ditch. The pottery includes dishes, bowls and jugs decorated with Barbotino, cannelures, pricked decoration and decoration in relief. The osteological material belongs mainly to domestic animals (sheep and goats, ox, pigs). The wild animals include red deer and fallow deer. An area of 150 sq. m was explored. Remains of a stone quarry that functioned during the 4th – 2nd centuries BC were discovered.