EXPLORATIONS OF EARLY CHRISTIAN BASILICA IN AUGUSTA TRAIANA (Krasimir Kalchev – rim@museum.starazagora.net) The site is situated in the northwestern part of the ancient town. Remains of a street and several asynchronous buildings of the Roman period were discovered on an area of 600 sq. m. During the first phase, a row of rooms adjoining to each other, most likely shops, were built to the north of the street. During the second phase, a monumental construction, most likely a cistern, was built in the eastern end of the excavated area. Its walls have two faces of ashlars and the inner face was plastered with hydrophobic mortar. During the third period, there is a reconstruction or a new construction of a row of rooms adjoining to each other. Their southern façade adjoins the northern wall of the Early Christian basilica. The northern nave and part of the central nave of the basilica were discovered. The basilica was three-nave and single-apse. From the outer side, the apse consists of three walls. Initially, the floor of the basilica was plastered with mortar, and presumably, there were mosaics. During the second phase of the functioning of the basilica, its floor was paved with mosaics. Several fragments of mosaics showing mainly geometric ornaments were discovered. During the same phase, a pavement to the northeast of the apse was made and a semicircular construction of bricks bonded with mud was built. There is a baptistery adjoining the northwestern angle of the basilica. A cemetery situated over the debris of the basilica appeared in the Middle Ages. Eight mediaeval Christian graves and pits of the Middle Ages and the Ottoman period were discovered.