EXCAVATIONS IN ESKI MOSQUE IN STARA ZAGORA (Dimitar Yankov – dimiter_yankov@yahoo.com) Foundations of an earlier mosque were discovered in a sondage to the east of the apse of the mediaeval church explored in the prayer room of Eski Mosque. The mediaeval church is the earliest building on the site. The foundations of the earlier mosque had a timber construction of transverse and longitudinal beams and big vertical beams used as posts. A ritual pit of the end of the Early Iron Age (11th – 6th centuries BC) was discovered to the southeast of the apse, under the foundations of the eastern wall of the mosque. Fragmentary wall-paintings, remains of foundations, most likely from the narthex, and four Christian graves were found in front of the entrance of the mediaeval church. Five mediaeval Christian graves, a pit containing pottery of the 2nd – 4th centuries AD and remains of a pottery kiln were discovered in the western anteroom of Eski Mosque.