EXPLORATIONS OF A THRACIAN SANCTUARY NEAR THE VILLAGE OF DOSITEEVO (Borislav Borislavov – b_borislavov@hotmail.com) The explorations in Sondage V, covering the highest area of the sanctuary, continued. A stone building up dated to the Late Iron Age (5th – 1st centuries BC) was discovered there in 2002. It surrounds the peak from the east to the northwest. The building up was constructed of uneven stones that lie on a stone pile of the Late Bronze Age (1600/1500 – 1100 BC). Decorated sherds were found between the stones of the Late Bronze Age pile. A bronze sickle was accidentally found there in 1992. The Late Iron Age building up supports structures situated in the highest area of the sanctuary. Four levels of the stone building up were explored in Sector East. A layer, 10 – 15 cm in thickness, containing Early Iron Age (11th – 6th centuries BC) materials, was discovered. The Late Bronze Age stone pile lies below it. Late Bronze Age sherds were found between the stones of the pile. Two hearths – altars were explored. A heaping of lath-and-plaster fragments was discovered and its structure is identical to other similar constructions of the Late Bronze Age (e.g. Sondage III, sector 1). Its thickness is 15 cm. The complete exploration of the cultural strata shows that the beginning of the sanctuary should be dated to the Late Bronze Age. A circle of stones, 1.60 m in diameter, was explored within the Early Iron Age layer in Sector West. An iron axe was found below the stones. Three hearths – altars and areas with high concentration of sherds were explored within the late Bronze Age layer. A pit for collecting the ash of the hearths, 1.20 m in diameter, was discovered.

EXPLORATIONS OF THE THRACIAN SANCTUARY ‘SEMERCHETO’ NEAR THE VILLAGE OF DOSITEEVO (Borislav Borislavov – b_borislavov@hotmail.com) A natural rock niche with trapezoid form was explored. It was barred by a stone block, which fell and covered a layer of the Late Bronze Age (1600/1500 – 1050 BC). The material found on the block also belongs to the Late Bronze Age, which may show that a presumable earthquake caused destruction in the cult site during that period. Three ceramic vessels and sherds of at least two other vessels were found inside the niche. A small kantharos discovered in 2004 also belongs to this group. The pottery was placed in a clay core within the niche and then the interior of the niche was burnt. The vessels date to the Late Bronze Age and are decorated with solar motifs. A fragment of a zoomorphic terracotta figurine and a spindle whorl were found nearby. Several levels of a ritual platform of the Late Bronze Age and the transition to the Early Iron Age were explored in Sector 3, during the previous archaeological seasons. In 2005, three Late Bronze Age levels and three ritual hearths were discovered. Sherds, animal bones (predominantly of deer), bone tools and a bronze bead were found. A surrounding wall of stones, which marked the boundaries of the sanctuary, was discovered in the foot of the slope. The excavated part of the wall is 9 m in length, 1 m in width and 50 cm in height. The finds and the pottery allow us to date the wall to the Hellenistic period. A ceramic vessel dug into the ground level was found from the inner side of the wall. Piles of animal bones and fragments of Thracian pottery were discovered. Four ritual pits of the Early Iron Age (11th – 6th centuries BC) were explored on the slope. Animal bones and sherds were found within the pits, while three of them contained pieces of tortoise carapaces.

THE THRACIAN SANCTUARY AT SEMERCHETO (Borislav Borislavov – b_borislavov@hotmail.com) The explorations of the southeastern slope and the ritual platform with six layers of the Late Bronze Age (1600 – 1100 BC) and two layers of the transition period to the Early Iron Age continued. Part of a stone wall, 9 m in length, 1 m in width and 50 cm in height, was discovered at the foot of the hill. The wall surrounded the sanctuary and according to the finds and the pottery it dates to the Hellenistic period. A pot was placed into the ground from the inner side of the wall. Piles of sherds and animal bones were discovered. Four ritual pits containing sherds and animal bones were explored on the southeastern slope, within the layer of the Early Iron Age (11th – 6th centuries BC). Three of the pits contained fragments of tortoises’ carapaces. Exploration of the Late Bronze Age layers of the northwestern part of the ritual platform on the summit of the sanctuary was carried out. A natural trapezoid rock niche open to the east was explored. The niche was closed from the west by a vertical stone block. At some point the block collapsed over a Late Bronze Age layer. The material and the layer situated above the block also date to the Late Bronze Age, which indicates of a powerful earthquake during that period. Three ceramic vessels arranged one above other and sherds of at least two other vessels were found inside the niche. The vessels were placed within clay and were fired at high temperature. Due to the fire, the clay became a ceramic mass and some of the vessels lost their shape. The vessels have a decoration of solar motifs and date to the Late Bronze Age. A fragment of zoomorphic figurine and a spindle whorl were discovered at c. 50 cm to the north.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS NEAR THE VILLAGE OF DOSITEEVO (Borislav Borislavov – b_borislavov@hotmail.com) Clandestine digs were documented on the site. The most serious damage occurred on the southeastern slope. In 2005 – 2006, four ritual pits from the end of the Early Iron Age were explored on that place. The earth excavated from the treasure-hunters contained sherds and animal bones. The explorations in Sondage III, Sector 2 and Sector 3 continued. Six Late Bronze Age layers of a ritual platform and two layers from the transition period to the Early Iron Age were identified. The separate trampled layers are 7 – 8 cm thick. An area with a pile of sherds mixed with animal bones was discovered. These are remains from sacrifices, typical of the cult site. A terracotta loom weight was found on the top of the sanctuary, in the central profile and in the stratum from the Hellenistic period.