EARLY CHRISTIAN BASILICA IN DUROSTORUM (Georgi Atanasov – geoatal@abv.bg, Dragomira Boeva) The basilica is situated in the central part of Durostorum: at c. 250 m to the south of the castellum built in the 4th century AD and at c. 200 m to the north of the fortified camp of the XI Claudius’ Legion. Part of the central nave, the apse, the narthex and the atrium were explored. The basilica is a three-nave and single-apse, with a non-segmented narthex and precincts. The total length of the basilica is 27.50 m and the width is 15.30 m. The inner length of the nave is 21 m and the inner length of the narthex is 2.50 m. The length of the atrium is c. 15 m. The central nave is 6.20 m in width and the side-naves are c. 3.10 m in width. The central nave is separated from the side naves by two rows of seven columns, 40 cm in diameter, with bases standing on monumental stylobates. The walls of the basilica are 80 cm in width and their foundation lies at 1.70 m in depth. The altar space is one-step higher than the rest of the interior and is paved with marble. Fragments of a marble altar screen and a marble pulpit were found in front of the apse. The narthex lies at 50 cm higher than the level of the nave and is paved with panels of rectangular and hexagonal bricks. The building technique is opus mixtum. The basilica was built after the mid 4th century AD, since a burnt layer dated by pottery and coins (the latest ones minted by Constantine II and Valentinianus I) was discovered below its foundations. The coins found below the pavement date to the first half of the 4th century AD. Most likely, the basilica was constructed in the end of the 4th or the first half of the 5th century AD. Remains of earlier buildings, which were burnt, were discovered during the exploration of the apse.

EXPLORATION OF BASILICA IN DUROSTORUM (Georgi Atanasov – geoatal@abv.bg, Dragomira Boeva) Excavations of the Early Christian basilica discovered in 2004 continued. The narthex with a floor of square and hexagonal bricks arranged in panels was thoroughly explored. The atrium with a floor of stone slabs is situated to the west of narthex. The entrance between the atrium and the narthex is 1.30 m in width and is parallel to the entrance between the narthex and the central nave of the basilica. A dwelling dated to the end of the 9th – 10th centuries containing sherds was discovered at 30 cm above the floor of the atrium. The pottery of the cultural layer related to the atrium and the narthex includes sherds of the 4th – 6th centuries AD. Fragmentary marble details and tiling were found too, in addition to two fragments of an openwork marble screen that most likely was placed on the stylobate of the columns between the naves of the basilica. The western wall of the atrium lies on a reused wall, 90 cm in width, belonging to an earlier building. The church is a three-nave and single-apse basilica with a narthex and an atrium, 32.80 in total length. The narthex is 2 m in width and the atrium is 5.90 – 6.20 m in length. A heating system was discovered to the west of the atrium and a wall 60 cm in width and built of uneven stones bonded with mortar, belonging to an earlier basilica, was explored. A terracotta water-conduit was discovered to the west of the wall. The exploration of the wall located to the north of the basilica continued. It is oriented north – south and is 15.10 m in length. The foundation of the wall cuts a layer containing traces of fire, pottery and coins dated to the 3rd – 4th centuries AD. Most likely, the wall belonged to a big public building of the 4th – 6th centuries AD.