EXPLORATIONS OF THE FORTIFICATIONS OF DEULTUM (Lyudmil Vagalinski – lvagalin@techno-link.com) The main task was a reliable chronology to be prepared on the basis of exact stratigraphic data. The earliest cultural layers were not reached yet. Seventy-four stratified coins and a hoard of 43 coins (all of bronze) facilitated the preparation of an exact chronology. Seven building periods were established for the period from the 2nd to the 6th centuries AD. The seventh one dates to the 6th century AD. In that period, the demolished Early Byzantine fortification wall was used as a quarry for building material. During the sixth period (second half of the 5th century AD), the eastern fortification wall was built. The fifth period also dates to the second half of the 5th century AD and new blocking walls were constructed. The fourth period has the characteristics of the fifth one and dates after 425 AD. The third period dates between 222 AD and 375 AD and the old fortification wall was plastered. During the second period, which dates from 155 AD to 235 AD, the height of the old fortification wall was enlarged and it was reinforced. The first building period of the fortification wall dates before 156 AD and is the earliest one known so far. During the entire period of some 400 years, the direction of the fortification walls remained the same: oriented according to the four cardinal points. It seems that this direction was established with the Roman colony. Although Deultum was situated far from the Danubian Limes, enemies often attacked it: eight conflagrations were traced out for the period 2nd – 5th centuries. During the 6th century (after 498 AD), the ninth conflagration demolished the Early Byzantine eastern fortification wall. The coin hoard was buried during an enemy attack soon after 395 AD. The building activities during the second half of the 5th century AD are very impressive.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS IN DEULTUM (Lyudmil Vagalinski – lvagalin@techno-link.com, Ivo Cholakov) Second eastern gate of the Early Byzantine Deultum was explored on Site I. It is situated to the south of the first gate explored during the 1980s. The gate is flanked by two rectangular towers and was built between AD 457 and 498. The strata include: a fire of the second half of the 5th century AD; a fire after AD 457; destruction after AD 425; a fire between AD 351 and 355; a stratum with burned debris with terminus post quem AD 218. All strata are related to constructions (buildings and drains). A bronze coin minted by Nikephoros I and Staurakios was found at the gate. It shows some activity during the Early Middle Ages and presumably was related to the capturing of Deultum by the Bulgarian Khan Krum in AD 812. The relatively precise chronology of the site is based on 167 stratified bronze coins. For the first time, coins minted by Emperors Marcian and Leo I were found. A bronze figurine of horse dated to the beginning of the 5th century AD is among the interesting finds. The southeastern corner of a Roman building was explored on Site VI. It was built of roughly cut stones bonded with mortar. The foundation is 60 cm in depth and the wall is preserved up to 50 cm in height. The building was burned after AD 351. It lies over two consecutive layers with traces of fire of the Roman period. Their chronology is in the process of clarification. Four stratified coins originate from Site VI. Two bronze coins, the first one presumably minted by Philip of Macedon and the second minted by Maroneia in the 2nd – 1st century BC, were found in the burned debris of the building. The stratigraphy of the site cannot explain their appearance in a Late Roman stratum.

DEULTUM (Lyudmil Vagalinski – lvagalin@techno-link.com, Ivo Cholakov) The chronology of the excavated sites is based on 155 stratified bronze coins. Site 1. Second Eastern Gate of Deultum. A clay floor level of a fire, which was registered in 2005 and was dated to the first half of the 2nd century AD, was discovered at 4.60 m in depth to the west of the gate. The dates of the structures, located within the gate interior and to the north of it, were clarified. The gate was constructed in the second half of the 5th century AD. A fire, which was registered immediately below the floor of the gate, occurred after AD 457. An earlier fire occurred during the second half of the 5th century AD. A previous fire occurred after AD 425. Most likely, attacks carried out by Huns and Ostrogoths were the reasons for the fires during the 5th century AD. An earlier fire occurred after AD 383. A three-rim arrowhead, typical of the Huns, was found in the debris. A previous fire occurred between AD 351 and 355. Three more layers with traces of fires were explored below. The fires occurred after AD 218, after AD 155 and before AD 156 (during the first half of the 2nd century AD). Site 7. Western Gate of Early Byzantine Deultum. The gate is situated at c. 100 m to the west of the southern one of the two gates on the eastern fortification wall. A square tower, which has a size and construction technique identical to the towers of the opposite eastern gate, was discovered. A rectangular room of the 5th century AD was explored. It was transformed into a cistern and set on fire after AD 498. A wall adjoins the eastern side of the room. It was covered by a layer of fire that occurred after AD 547. The possible reason for the fire was the attack of the Kutrigurs, who were part of the proto-Bulgars, either in AD 552, or in AD 558/559. Oak and ash-tree grew in the region during the 5th – 6th centuries AD. The fauna of the 2nd – 5th centuries AD includes ox, horses, donkeys, sheep, goats, pigs, hens, boars and fallow deer.

DEULTUM (Lyudmil Vagalinski – lvagalin@techno-link.com) Two stone slabs from the entrance pavement of the Western Early Byzantine gate of Deultum were discovered. The adjacent sector of the western fortification wall located to the north of the gate and the southern wall of the northern gate tower were explored as well. A Late Roman room built of roughly-cut stones bonded with clay and with floor paved with bricks was discovered to the west of the fortification gate. Two hoards of copper coins (164 coins and 32 coins respectively) were found in the room; the latest coins were minted by Leo I the Thracian. One of the hoards contained a bronze _exagium_ as well. The coin hoards showed that the Early Byzantine fortress of Deultum was built after AD 457. A coin of the second half of the 6th century AD was found in the debris of the fortification gate, indicating the time of its latest use before it was destroyed. The finds from the excavations also included two lead imitations of copper coins of the 5th century AD.

DEULTUM (Lyudmil Vagalinski – lvagalin@techno-link.com) An area of 261 sq. m was explored. A fortification tower with trapezoid plan was discovered on Late Antique northern fortification wall. It was projected at 8.48 m in front of the fortification wall and was 11.86 m long. The front walls of the tower were 2.20 m wide and the side back walls were 1.60 m wide. The walls were built of cut stones, including spolia from the Roman period, with courses of bricks at some places, with a core structure of roughly-cut stones and fragmentary building ceramics bonded with mortar. The first two floors of the fortification tower with stone walls were preserved. The upper part of the tower was constructed of sun-dried bricks. A staircase built of stones was discovered, leading to the upper floors. The fortification tower had two embrasures on its northern front wall and one embrasure on each side wall. Two more embrasures were explored at the adjacent fortification wall to the west of the tower. The tower was burnt and roof-tiles malformed from the strong fire were found. The discovered fortification of Deultum belonged to the newly-constructed Late Antique fortress, built in the second half of the 5th century AD (after AD 457) and burnt after AD 527, judging from the latest coin discovered in the layer with debris minted in AD 527 – 538. This northern peripheral part of Deultum was occupied during the 7th – 8th centuries AD as well. The finds from the excavations included weaponry and 37 Late Antique copper and bronze and one silver coins.

DEULTUM (Lyudmil Vagalinski – lvagalin@techno-link.com) The explorations of the Late Antique fortification tower with trapezoid layout, preserved up to 4 m in height, continued. Part of the northern fortification wall of the Roman period was discovered. The wall was 2.48 m wide, built of roughly-cut stones bonded with mortar with an emplectum of uneven stones. Later on, the Late Antique fortification wall was built on it. A public building with arches constructed of bricks was built to the south of the fortification wall. The building was burned after AD 383 and subsequently it was reconstructed and used to accommodate dolia. Then the building was burned again. The Late Antique northern fortification wall with the tower with trapezoid layout was built after AD 457. The wall was 2.20 m wide. The first period ended with a fire that occurred after AD 491. The second period of the northern Late Antique wall with a tower began with a repair. Rooms adjacent to the inner side of the wall were built. The northern fortification wall was destroyed by a fire that occurred after AD 574, probably during any attack by the Avars. During the 7th – 8th centuries AD, ramshackle buildings were constructed over the debris of the northern fortification wall with a tower. The finds from the excavations included fragments from inscriptions, 238 Roman and Early Byzantine copper and bronze and two silver coins, fibulae, terracotta lamps, a bronze lamp, weapons, a bone figurine of Isis and Horus, a bronze appliqué with encrusted silver decoration and sherds. Meat from wild animals and grain were stored in the fortification tower. Carbonized rye, barley, common wheat and einkorn wheat were documented in the Early Byzantine layers.

DEULTUM (Lyudmil Vagalinski – lvagalin@techno-link.com) Spolia were documented in the structure of the fortification tower, including a fragment from a Latin funerary inscription of the 2nd century AD. The explorations of the building with arches constructed of stones and bricks continued to the south of the tower. A room with a hypocaust and marble veneer was discovered. The building was burned after AD 383/408 and the Roman fortification wall was built before that date. Subsequently and before AD 402/450, the Late Antique fortification wall 2.20 m wide, with the trapezoid tower, was built over the Roman wall. This period ended with a fire. Subsequently and before AD 491/518, a reinforcing wall 1.60 m wide was built adjoining the Late Antique northern fortification wall. Most probably, the reinforcement of the wall coincided with the construction of the Early Byzantine fortress that occurred after AD 457/474, during the reign of Leo I the Thracian, or Zeno, or Anastasius I Dicorus, probably due to the Hunnic attacks. The fortress narrowed from the east and from the west the previously fortified area, but preserved and reinforced the previous northern and probably the southern fortification walls. This period ended with a fire after AD 491/518. Subsequently, the northern fortification wall was repaired and buildings of roughly-cut stones bonded with clay and upper walls of sun-dried bricks were constructed, adjoining the inner side of the fortification wall. After AD 574, the fortress was burned during the attacks of Avars and Slavs. During the 7th – 8th centuries AD, ramshackle buildings were constructed over the debris of the northern fortification wall and subsequently, they were burned. The finds from the excavations included sherds, fragments from two funerary inscriptions of the 2nd century AD and 226 coins. According to the archaeozoological and palaeobotanical analyses, meat, common wheat and black pine and oak beams were stored in the fortification tower.

DEULTUM (Lyudmil Vagalinski – lvagalin@techno-link.com) The explorations of the northern fortification wall continued. A sector of the wall built c. AD 400 was discovered with supporting/reinforcing wall with a staircase of the second half of the 5th century AD, adjoining the inner side of the earlier wall. An embrasure was explored to the west, probably belonging to the northwestern corner of the wall built c. AD 400. The finds included copper coins of the 2nd – 5th centuries AD, querns, terracotta spindle whorls, iron arrowheads and small knives, terracotta lamps and sherds.

DEULTUM (Lyudmil Vagalinski – lvagalin@techno-link.com) In Site 10, the explorations of the northwestern corner of the Late Antique fortification wall continued. The strata were c. 5 m thick. There were traces from fire on the earliest occupation level dated after AD 161 that probably occurred during the Marcomannic Wars when the Costoboci invaded the Roman provinces in the Balkans. A water-conduit of terracotta pipes was the only structure of that period. After AD 161 and before AD 268, a monumental building was constructed, some parts of it built in _opus mixtum_. The walls discovered in the neighboring Site 9 were built in the same technique and had arches; a hypocaust was also documented. These structures probably belonged to one and the same large architectural complex, probably a villa urbana. It was burned down after AD 268, probably by the Goths and subsequently, the northern fortification wall with a monumental tower in the middle was built before AD 383. Two consecutive attacks were documented: after AD 383 and after AD 395, probably carried out by the Goths and/or by the Huns. The latter one was probably the same attack documented on Site 9 that occurred after AD 402/450. After AD 457/474 and before AD 491/518, the northern fortification wall was reinforced with another wall that adjoined its inner southern side. The new Early Byzantine fortress significantly decreased the fortified area of Deultum from the east and from the west. The fortress survived an attack that occurred after AD 491/518, but it was burned down soon after AD 574, probably during the invasions of Avars and Slavs. Subsequently, a small fortress was built on a hill at c. 1 km to the southwest. It was probably conquered by the proto-Bulgarian Khan Krum in AD 812. Judging from the pottery, the small fortress existed until the beginning of the 13th century when it was destroyed by the Crusaders who conquered Constantinople. During the 7th – 8th centuries AD, ramshackle houses were built over the debris of the northern fortification wall of Deultum and subsequently, they were burned down.

DEULTUM (Lyudmil Vagalinski – lvagalin@techno-link.com) The excavations of the Late Roman northwestern corner fortification tower continued. Parts of the pavement of a cardo and its eastern kerb were discovered. A water-conduit of terracotta pipes was documented beneath the street pavement. A building with a bath was discovered, situated to the east of the kerb. Probably, it was a domus that reached the temple of the imperial cult to the east. The building was burned down after AD 270, probably during a Gothic attack. After the fire, the northwestern corner fortification tower was built over the cardo. The tower had a barrel-vaulted entrance and a stone staircase leading towards its upper floors. It was part of the Late Roman fortification wall with the monumental trapezoid tower in the middle. Thus, the fortification that was built at the end of the 3rd century AD, or a little bit later, narrowed the fortified area of Deultum from the west. A fire that occurred after AD 401/403 destroyed the tower. It was reconstructed, but soon another attack occurred after AD 410/430. Later on, soon after AD 491/518 the tower was burned during another attack. A gold tremissis of Anastasius I Dicorus was found in the debris. Subsequently, dolia were stored in the tower. Soon after AD 565/578, the fortification of Deultum was destroyed by an attack of Avars and Slavs. A follis of Leo IV the Khazar and Constantine VI, minted in AD 776/778, indicated some human activity in the area of the tower in that time. The archaeobotanical samples showed the presence of supplies of compact common wheat and ground rye. Large guard dogs died in the tower during the last attack and meat from butchered pigs, cattle and sheep/goats was stored there. The finds from the excavations included coins, weapons, pottery, glass vessels, terracotta lamps, iron tools and jewelry.

DEULTUM (Lyudmil Vagalinski – lvagalin@techno-link.com) The northeastern corner tower of the Late Antique fortification, preserved up to 4 m in height, was discovered with an adjacent postern to the south. The Late Antique fortification was built over earlier structures of the Roman period: cardo (cardo maximus?) with rooms along its western side and a temple, probably related to the Imperial Cult. A fire that occurred after AD 268 was documented. The Late Antique fortification was built after AD 297 and it narrowed the protected area of the city. The new northern fortification wall had an _ intervallum_ 3.60 m wide. The defenders were able to walk along a secret longitudinal passage within the eastern fortification wall, 75 cm wide, and thus to reach the postern located close to the northeastern corner tower. A fire that occurred after AD 313 was documented. In the same year, Maximinus Daza fought against Licinius in Southeastern Thrace and later Licinius fought against Constantine the Great. An attack that occurred after AD 378 was documented, most probably carried out by the Goths who defeated Emperor Valens on the 9th August in the same year in the Battle of Hadrianopolis located not so far from Deultum. Pieces from iron plated mail ( _lorica segmentata_ ) were found in the burned debris. In the 5th century AD, the inner side of the northern fortification was reinforced with a massive wall. The fortification was destroyed at the end of the 6th century AD. After AD 778, the northeastern corner tower was used as a quarry for building material. The archaeobotanical samples showed the application of oak timber in the Late Antique fortification. The zooarchaeological analysis showed that oxen, pigs and sheep/goats prevailed, but horses, hens, gooses, deer, storks and Black Sea shells also occurred. A large dog, probably guard dog died in this fortification tower, too. The finds included mostly weaponry, 60 coins and a fragment from a Latin funerary inscription that was reused in the northern fortification wall.