Pit from the 1st Century AD near Ruzhintsi Village, Vidin Region

The following article presents the salvage excavation of a domestic-related pit, containing a heterogeneous fill. It had a complex shape: the upper part was cylindrical, and the lower part was truncated-conical, expanding towards the bottom. The filling was heterogeneous; in the lower portion it was well-mixed with yellow soil inclusions and lenses from the loess layer into which the pit was dug. Only ceramic fragments were found within the boundaries of the excavated structure. They belonged to vessels that were made on the wheel (mainly grey, but also those with a red colour) and also from vessels made by hand. Of particular interest are the sherds of wheel-made bowls with a grey colour and a thickened rim. In recent years, these have often been found on sites that date to the 1st century AD. A rim sherd from a censer was also discovered in the pit – an imitation of a Roman form, but made by hand. According to their parallels the ceramics from the pit can be dated within the limits of the 1st century AD. The excavated pit is probably part of a larger settlement that developed outside the boundaries of the surveyed easement.