ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS NEAR THE VILLAGE OF DOIRANTSI (Stela Doncheva – donchevastela@yahoo.com, Tihomir Tihov) Field surveys of a settlement of the 9th – 10th centuries were carried out. The settlement covered an area of 0.45 – 0.5 ha. Slag, fragmentary wattle-and-daub, proto-Bulgarian sherds of the 9th – 10th centuries, appliqués, arrowheads and a follis of Leo VI the Wise were found. Thracian sherds of the 5th – 4th centuries BC were documented. Sondages were carried out in Sector North. Proto-Bulgarian sherds were found down to 35 – 40 cm in depth. Slag and sherds were found down to 30 – 40 cm in depth in Sector South. A semi-dug sunken-floored smithy, 13 m by 5.60 m in size, was explored. Burned soil, iron slag, postholes 5 – 6 cm in diameter and 8 – 9 cm in depth, and holes from timber pillars 18 cm in diameter and 16 cm in depth were discovered. Two metallurgical kilns, 1 m and 1.30 m in diameter, were explored. Semicircular areas bordered with stones were discovered in front of the kilns and they contained iron slag, burned pottery and charcoal. Midden pits, 1.10 – 1.30 m in diameter and 60 – 70 cm in depth, were discovered close to the semicircular areas in front of the kilns. Hearths bordered with stones and containing layers of charcoal were documented close to both kilns. An earlier level with another kiln was documented under the foundation of the northern kiln. A hearth, bordered with stones and containing slag, charcoal and burned pottery, was discovered in the southern part of the smithy. The charcoal that was used in both metallurgical kilns was probably produced there. The smithy was part of a complex, which included four – five similar workshops and was situated at 20 – 30 m to the north of the mediaeval settlement.