#Exhibit of the Month

Bronze cauldrons of the Scythian time are rare in the Northern Black Sea region, especially on its western borders. Therefore, those few items found on the territory of the Republic of Moldova occupy a worthy place in the collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova (NMHM). In particular, in the archaeological exhibition, two bronze cauldrons are displayed, discovered near the village of Nicolscoe in 1988 in burial mounds no. 14 and 15. In addition, in 2020, two bronze cauldrons without any accompanying documents were found in the collection of NMHM; however, they were visually identified as coming from various excavations in the Low Dniester region, such as burial mound no. 45 near Dubăsari and burial mound no. 1 near the Răscăieții Noi village.

The object presented as the exhibit of the month is a little-known find discovered in 1979 in barrow 1 near the village of Răscăieții Noi in the Ștefan Vodă district. In addition to its outstanding size (about 10 m high), this mound is known for discovering a cast bronze finial in the Scythian animal style on its surface in 1953. However, by the beginning of excavations, the locals had damaged part of the mound and a Scythian cast bronze cauldron was found near it. The cauldron was seriously damaged by mechanical impact, as a result of which the rim was deformed, and the walls, with one preserved vertical handle, were bent inwards. Fragments in the upper part of the body and one handle have been lost. The total reconstructed height of the cauldron is 24 cm (excluding the handles), the reconstructed diameter of the hemispherical cauldron is 30 cm, and the weight is 6.5 kg. In 2020, data on the chemical composition of the bronze cauldron alloy were obtained, revealing that it was cast from an alloy of almost 95 per cent copper. Unfortunately, due to the loss of information on the context of the discovery of the cauldron at Răscăieții Noi, it is impossible to link its discovery with one or another Scythian burial of the barrow. Moreover, the grave goods of other Scythian burials of Barrow 1 do not allow them to date below the 4th century BC. However, the cauldron with vertical handles from Răscăieții Noi most likely belongs earlier. This may be indicated by a bronze finial from the first half of the 5th century BC, which was found on this barrow in 1953. In addition, burial 7 from the nearest excavated barrow 2 at Răscăieții Noi, containing a plaque depicting a rolled predator (a copy of which is also on display at the NMHM), belongs to the mid- 5th century BC. Thus, there is a high probability that the cauldron from Barrow 1 at Răscăieții Noi is associated with the late Middle Scythian period or the mid-5th century BC.

Scythian bronze cauldrons in the west area are concentrated in three main regions: Bukovina-Podolia, the Lower Danube, and the Lower Dniester. Some Scythian cauldrons have no reliable archaeological context. Nevertheless, in combination with the same "stray" finds like the Scythian statues, the finds of Scythian cauldrons mark the Scythian presence, most likely not earlier than the late 6th century or even the turn of the 6th-5th centuries BC. The cauldrons first appeared in Bukovina, where they have been known since the middle of the 7th century BC. Bronze cauldrons (with their carriers) entered the steppe region 150-200 years later, and the "military" burials that appeared in the western steppe regions were no earlier than the middle of the 5th century BC. Most burials with cauldrons (and, apparently, the stray finds) are dated back to the second half of the 5th century BC. Then, in the early 4th century BC, their quantity was reduced, and after the first quarter of the 4th century BC, they completely disappeared from the cultural practice of the population of the steppes of the North-Western Black Sea region.

Virtual Tour

Exhibitions

„Da Vinci - Inventions”

February 1st – April 30th, 2016

The National Museum of History of Moldova is hosting a unique exhibition that presents the genius of Leonardo da Vinci as inventor and scientist. The unique mobile exhibition „Da Vinci - Inventions" was produced by the Australian company „Grande Exhibitions" under the guidance of „Leonardo da Vinci" Museum with support of Italian specialists.

Being for the first time in Moldova, the exhibition "Da Vinci - Inventions" is part of an international itinerary with displays in more than 60 countries in Europe, Asia, North America and Australia.

The exhibition brings together about 50 models of machines designed 500 years ago by the most important cultural figure of the Renaissance. The models, some functional, are made in wood and are fair copies of Leonardo da Vinci's projects that were not reproduced during the life of the inventor. To create these models, the Italian artisans studied more than 6000 pages of Leonardo's notebooks - the so-called codices, having to learn an old Florentine dialect, to interpret abbreviations, Leonardo's writing in the mirror and analyze his complicated designs.

The machinery presented in the exhibition is grouped into the following categories:

• Flying machines: Leonardo da Vinci is considered the father of flight. Initially he designed flying machines based on the movements of wings, believing that people can learn to fly if they create and operate machines that mimic the movement of birds. Later, da Vinci understood that men will never have the power to fly like birds. So he studied the flight without wings movement, exploring wind speed and ways to use air currents to reach great heights. In the exhibition are presented: glider, hang glider, parachute, device for measuring wind speed and air humidity, slope measurement device etc.

• Civil machines: Throughout his life, Leonardo worked on various technical projects, inventing machines to make work tasks more efficient. Many of his mechanical drawings are real works of art. Others are just sketches that relate directly to the mechanical device. In his old age, he revised his works on metallurgy, cranes, construction and textile machinery, proposing further improvements. Leonardo was also interested in music. From his many inventions, the mechanical drum is perhaps most fascinating. On display are: powered car, bicycle, machine for lifting pillars, pedometer, mechanical drum etc.

• Hydraulic machines / walking on water: Leonardo is noted for his work in the field of hydraulic engineering. He drew plans for control and regulation of rivers and drain of marshes. He studied hydraulic solutions already tested by other engineers, but proposing new solutions. Among his inventions are the hydraulic saw, wetsuit, double-hulled vessels, a paddle boat and safety belt, all presented in the exhibition.

• War machines: Although Leonardo was by nature a pacifist, he lived in a time of war, when the city-states of Italy were fighting among themselves and against France. War has posed new mechanical and strategic challenges and some of the most inventive activities of Leonardo focused on weapons for war. Some of his early projects are practical and easy to build, for example fast mobile bridges and ladders to assault fortresses. Later, his work has focused on defensive and offensive strategies: more durable bridges, ladders for assault, advanced artillery, mortière. Leonardo has developed plans for rifles with several pipes, cannons, catapults, giant crossbows, chariots fitted with scythes on wheels, armoured vehicles - predecessor of today tanks. All these inventions can be seen in the exhibition hosted by the museum.

• The principles of physics and mechanics: Leonardo believed that mechanics was the key to understanding the world. He studied the behaviour of elements - water, air, light - and identified models of behaviour in different situations. He made many drawings showing the swirling flow of water, air currents and the nature of light, shadows and reflections, always trying to understand the physical and mechanical principles they are based on. Among the pieces that are part of this exhibition compartment are: gearwheel mechanism, hammer driven by an eccentric cam, rotating ball bearings, elevator, etc.

Besides models of machines designed by the Renaissance genius, the exhibition also includes copies of the most famous anatomy manuscripts and notes of da Vinci. His detailed anatomy drawings are an amazing achievement. After three and a half centuries, they served as models for the anatomical drawings in the famous book "Gray's Anatomy", written by Henry Gray.

The exhibition includes also artistic works of da Vinci. On display are reproductions in full size of masterpieces "Mona Lisa", "The Last Supper", "Vitruvian Man", "Virgin of the Rocks", "Madonna Benois", "Saint Jerome" etc. Also, the exhibition shows drawings of the Battle of Anghiari. With the help of modern technology "The Last Supper" is projected on canvas in a funny and educational way.

The exhibition "Da Vinci - Inventions", presented at the National Museum of History of Moldova, provides the most comprehensive approach to the work of Leonardo da Vinci, captivating the visitors through the timeless genius of Leonardo. Visitors can move, pull, push, and rotate some objects to understand all the scientific principles underlying the inventions of the great Renaissance man.

#Exhibit of the Month

Scythian bronze cauldron from Răscăieții Noi

„Da Vinci - Inventions”

February 1st – April 30th, 2016

#Exhibit of the Month