SONDAGE EXPLORATIONS IN THE SETTLEMENT MOUND NEAR THE REGIONAL HOSPITAL OF STARA ZAGORA (Petar Kalchev – kalchevp@abv.bg) The sondage explorations were carried out in the central and western parts of the settlement mound, due to illicit building digs to the west of both Early Neolithic houses excavated in 1969 – 1970 and currently displayed inside the Neolithic Settlement Museum. The cultural strata were destroyed down to 1.70 m in depth. The three illicit digs were designated as trenches Nos. 1, 2 and 3. Part of a house, 2 m by 3 m in size, was explored in trench No. 1. Foundations of an oven with part of its vaulting, a dolium, a millstone on a terracotta stand and a whetstone were found inside the house. The house was destroyed by fire. It was built of timber construction plastered with clay up to 40 cm in thickness. Prints of posts, poles and beams were visible within the debris. The inside part of the wall was smoothed out and the ceiling was plastered with clay. Seven ceramic vessels, tools made of stone, bone and flint, an anthropomorphic figurine, 69 terracotta models of grain, etc. were found in the house, which is related to the Early Neolithic Culture Karanovo II. A pile of stones, burnt lath-and-plaster and animal bones was discovered in trench No. 2. The pottery dates to the Early Neolithic period (Culture Karanovo I). Sherds of white-painted pottery, a fragment of lid showing a swastika among them, were also found. Part of an antler of Cervus elaphus was found under the pile. Trench No. 3 was situated in the western periphery of the settlement mound. No archaeological material was found.