THE EARLY MEDIAEVAL EPISCOPATE IN ABRITUS (Galena Radoslavova – galena_rz@abv.bg, Georgi Dzanev) The foundation of the northern wall of the basilica was explored. It is 0.98 – 1.05 m in width and down to 2 – 2.10 m in depth. Part of a room, additionally constructed to the northeast of the basilica, was explored. The northern half of the eastern wall of the basilica, identical to the northern wall, was discovered. Early Mediaeval sherds, bone awls, whetstones, an iron arrowhead, bronze belt appliqués and a point, a lead seal of the Bulgarian King Petar I ((927 – 969), a presumable iron stylus and three bronze clasps for books were found within the layer of debris. Sondages in the apse of the basilica were carried out. Bases, frames, part of an altar screen, parts of a small decorative column and cornice were found. An earlier floor of mortar was discovered at 1.70 m below the floor level of the basilica. The inner walls of the apse were built of ashlars whose joints are plastered with mortar. The basilica was re-built on the place of an earlier basilica. A small marble column of an altar screen, parts of a plate of an altar screen and a frame originate from the earlier basilica. A fragment of a basin for holy water remains without specified chronology. Walls of a Late Antique building and a water-conduit were discovered inside the northern nave of the basilica and to the northeast of it, under the level of the earlier basilica. They lie within a stratum containing sherds, a ceramic lamp, a spindle whorl, fragments of glass vessels, a fragment of a glass bracelet, an iron finger-ring-key, two bronze fibulae, and 114 bronze coins from Licinius I, Licinius II, Constantine I and his sons through Theodosius II, which date the building. The earlier basilica situated above the Late Antique building could be dated in the second half of the 5th century AD, at earliest.