ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS NEAR THE VILLAGE OF MANOLE (Kostadin Kisyov – kostadin_kissiov@abv.bg) The exploration of the southern side of the monumental stone pillar in the tumulus’ center continued. A clandestine tunnel was documented, destroying part of the pillar and containing a copper mangir of Sultan Suleiman I. Eight ritual pits (Nos. XI – XXIII) were discovered in the southern periphery of the tumulus, containing ceramic vessels, fragmentary wattle-and-daub, fragmentary building ceramics, querns, coins and animal bones. Eighteen ritual pits (Nos. XVII – XXXVI) dug into the ancient terrain were discovered in the northern periphery of the tumulus, containing ceramic vessels, fragmentary wattle-and-daub, fragmentary building ceramics, querns, coins and animal bones. A marble ashlar with holes to accommodate iron clamps and two fragmentary Doric capitals were discovered in Trench Zh/23. The coins found during the excavations belonged to Antoninus Pius, Caracalla, Elagabalus, Gordian III, Gallienus, Saloninus, Claudius Gothicus, Aurelian, Probus, Diocletian and Maximian; 80% of the 63 coins that were discovered dated to AD 260 – 275, while most of the coins belonged to Aurelian.