ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS NEAR SEVLIEVO (Iordan Aleksiev – yordan_aleksiev@abv.bg) A surrounding wall was discovered in the sector at elevation 18. The wall is 35 m long and 18 m wide and closes an area of 1100 – 1200 sq. m. The inner area was set to fire: a stratum with traces of conflagration, up to 1 m thick, was documented. No remains of structures were discovered. Probably, timber buildings existed in the inner area. Burned wooden beams were discovered. Part of the house located at the western gate of the fortress was discovered during the excavations conducted in 1989 – 1990. The house adjoins the eastern wall of the gate. There is a fireplace, 1.35 m by 55/60 cm in size, at the northern wall. The house measures 8.60 m by 3.90 m. Most probably, its entrance was from the south. A trapezoid niche was discovered at the middle of the eastern wall. The floor of the house is of trampled clay and parts of it were burned. The finds include sherds from Early Byzantine and mediaeval pottery, a bronze awl, iron nails, clamps and an iron knife.