The site is located at a flat plateau to the south of the citadel Samuilova Tvrdina. At this area there is a complex of early Christian and medieval churches. The big basilica with three naves and the tetraconchal church are representatives of the early Christianity. Towards the end of the 9th century, St. Clement of Ohrid built a small triconch church at Plaoshnik and founded the Ohrid Literary School. The church was upgraded several times until the 15th century when it was converted to a mosque. Plaoshnik was partially excavated in 1943, 1960 – 61, 1965, 1967 and 1990. In 2000 new systematic excavations were begun. They have the goal of research, conservation and restoration of this significant Christian complex. In 2005 the excavations were focused around the big basilica, below the mosaic floor of the narthex and around the baptistery. The oldest layers belong to the late Hellenistic period. There are remains of mud brick walls with stone basis. Some of the walls had fresco decoration. From the Early – Roman period two midden pits were discovered. Above the pits, 9 floor levels from the 4th to the 6th century were documented. During the Middle Ages, 14 pits were dug in the red soil. These pits contain animal bones, sherds, coins and tegulae. Among the sherds there are some sgraffito pieces. The last strata are represented by remains from the period of the Ottoman rule. The excavations below the mosaic floor from the narthex of the basilica revealed the mortar underlay of the mosaic and 7 pits from the Middle Ages, dug through the inlay. In some of the pits there were sherds from the Iron Age and the Hellenistic period. Three burials, with poorly preserved osteological remains, were found in the same area. Three burials from the period between the 9th and 14th century were uncovered in the control trenches around the baptistery of the basilica.