#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

Services

Admission to Exhibitions

Entrance fees:

Permanent exhibition:

Adults - 10 MDL
Pensioners, adults with moderate disabilities / disability of the 3rd degree (with valid certificates) - 5 MDL
Students (with valid certificates) - 5 MDL
School students - 2 MDL

Temporary exhibitions and the Treasure Room:

adults - 10 MDL
students - 5 MDL
pupils - 3 MDL

Free admission:

Preschool children (under 7 years), children from residential institutions, children (under 18 years) with disabilities and their accompanying, adults with severe and obvious disabilities (disability of the 1^st and 2^nd degree), military conscripts, official and cultural delegations (within the opening hours of the museum), employees of the national museum network, Ministry of Culture, and national institutions in the field of cultural heritage, ICOM and ICOMOS card holders

Free admission for all visitors: the last Saturday and Sunday of every month

Closed: Friday, 1, 7, and 8 January, 8 March, first and second day of Easter, 1 May, 27 and 31 August

Guided Tours

Guided tours are available on request in Romanian and Russian, for groups of 5 - 30 people or individual visitors. Reservations are required at least 24 hours in advance, by phone (022240426) or e-mail (muzeuldeistorie@gmail.com): specify the date and time, the type and size of the group, and the language.

Costs of guided tours:

For a group of 5 - 30 people:

Adults - 50 MDL
Students - 30 MDL

Guided tours in foreign languages:

Adults - 100 MDL
Students - 80 MDL

Guided tours are free for children from residential institutions and military conscripts

Taking Photographs in the Museum

Costs:

• in exhibition rooms (for personal use, without flash) - 15 MDL;
• objects of the permanent exhibition - 10 MDL for an ordinary exhibit, 80 MDL for an unique exhibit;
• objects from the collection - 30 MDL for a published exhibit, 100 MDL for an unpublished exhibit, 100 MDL for an unique published exhibit, 150 MDL for an unique unpublished exhibit;
• photography of the Museum exhibit items for reproductions оn calendars, postcards, envelops, etc. - 200 MDL for an item;
• services of the Museum Photographic Laboratory - 30 MDL for a cliché, 35 MDL for a black-and-white photograph (9x13-18x24cm), 45 MDL for a color photograph (9x13-20x30cm);
• photocopying of a document - 10 MDL.

Photography or photocopying of the Museum exhibit items by juridical persons is possible only with the permission from the Museum administration, obtained in written form.

Video Filming in the Museum

Costs:

• in exhibition rooms, physical persons, for personal use - 40 MDL, with additional illumination - 80 MDL;
• in exhibition rooms, juridical persons (per hour) - 300 MDL for documentary, 150 MDL for educational film, 400 MDL for feature film, 400 lei for promotional video. If exhibits are taken separately, filming of every item must be paid as well.

For video filming in the Museum juridical persons must obtain the permission from the Museum administration, in writing.

Loan of Exhibit Items

Costs for an exhibit item / a day:

• loan of exhibit items for filming, etc.: 200 MDL;
• loan for exhibitions, except institutions of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Moldova: 70 MDL.

Individuals can take exhibit items on loan with the written permission from the Museum administration, providing the observance of the Regulations on Registration and Preservation of Movable Cultural Heritage. Museum staff member accompanies the items.

Expert Examination of Cultural Values

Verbal examination:

• in the Museum: 40 MDL for an object;
• within the city limits: 50 MDL for an object;
• outside the city, traveling and accommodation costs at the expense of a client: 150 MDL for an object.

Written examination:

• in the Museum: 52 MDL for an object;
• within the city limits: 65 MDL for an object;
• outside the city, traveling and accommodation costs at the expense of a client: 195 MDL for an object.

Library

The Museum Library’s collection includes more than 10,000 books on a wide range of subjects, such as archaeology, history, museum studies, and scholarly reference works of interest to the Museum staff. The Library is also available to the public.

Costs:

to join the library: 10 MDL;
to borrow a book: 5 MDL / a day;

• to take a book for photocopying: 2 MDL.

Assistance of Museum Specialists

The Museum offers professional consultations and practical assistance in the field of archaeology, history, and museum studies, to physical persons and institutions.

Rent of Museum Space

The 1^st floor hall and the temporary exhibition room may be rented for temporary exhibitions, scientific and cultural events. For additional information and reservations, contact the Accounts Department, by phone: + 373 (22) 23-82-69, or the Deputy Director for Public Relations, by phone: + 373 (22) 23-83-13.

Museum Shop

In the Museum Shop can be purchased publications concerned archaeology and history of Moldova, exhibition catalogues, booklets and museum guides, and replicas of exhibit items are available.