HOTALICH FORTRESS (Nadezhda Boteva – nadejda_boteva@abv.bg) The excavations were carried out in the northwestern part of the citadel, between the western and the northern fortification gates discovered in 1989 and in 1993, respectively. The northern fortification wall was built of mortared stones. It probably collapsed during an earthquake. The fortification wall was c. 6.50 m high and was built at the end of the 5th century AD, judging from 14 coins discovered. The finds included sherds of the end of the 5th – beginning of the 6th centuries AD, belt buckles, appliqués and arrowheads. A burial of a young individual of the end of the 5th century AD was explored. Rooms Nos. 1 and 2 were discovered. The walls of Room No. 1 were 70 cm wide built of stones bonded with clay. A midden pit was discovered in the northeastern corner of the room, containing charcoal, animal bones and a cowbell. The floor was paved with stone slabs. Two querns and sherds of the end of the 10th – beginning of the 11th centuries were found. Room No. 2 was discovered at 4.80 m to the west of Room No. 1. A stratigraphic profile was excavated in Trenches XLI-3, 5. The top stratum consisted of debris from the fortification wall. The next stratum contained Early Byzantine sherds and a follis of the beginning of the 6th century AD. The stratum beneath contained Early Byzantine sherds, 14 coins of the end of the 5th century AD, iron and glass slag.