#Exhibit of the Month

The 21 beads form part of a bronze hoard found in 2019 within a forested area close to the town of Nisporeni. Alongside the beads, the hoard included numerous bronze ornaments (2 Röschitz-Sanislău-type fibulae, 7 necklaces, 12 rings, 22 tubes, 23 bracelets, and approximately 80 appliqués), one coral bead and a pendant made from a wild animal's tooth. At present, the amber beads are preserved in the collections of the Muzeul Național de Istorie a Moldovei, while the remainder of the hoard is in the possession of a private collector.
The hoard was discovered accidentally in a pit about 50 cm deep. The objects in this hoard are of Western origin, with known parallels in archaeological complexes from Poland, Hungary, Serbia, and Slovakia, and, to a lesser extent, in Romania. The presence of this bronze hoard on the territory of the Republic of Moldova illustrates the cultural dynamics of the region during the Early Iron Age and a fundamental shift in the vector of cultural influences from east to west.

The amber bead strand comprises 16 whole beads and five fragmentary ones. They have an elongated biconical shape and vary in size. The beads are brown-reddish in color; their lengths range from 1.1 to 3.1 cm, widths from 0.6 to 1.4 cm, thicknesses from 0.6 to 1.1 cm, and the perforation diameter ranges between 0.2 and 0.3 cm.
Amber beads appear in several bronze hoards dated to the Late Bronze Age in the eastern half of Slovakia and in Transdanubian Hungary. Parallels are also known from the Cioclovina Cave in Romania. With the onset of the Iron Age, amber items disappear from the Carpathian Basin for approximately 300 years, reappearing alongside the arrival of Scythian elements.
The bronze hoard discovered at Nisporeni is dated to the HaA2-HaB1-2 interval (1050/1000 - 800/750 B.C.).

Virtual Tour

Exhibitions

"Astrophysicist Nicolae DONICI - 150 Years of Light"

September 15 – October 15, 2024

The National Museum of History of Moldova, in partnership with the „Mihai Eminescu" Romanian Cultural Institute in Chișinău and the „Heritage 21" Foundation, will host the exhibition titled "Astrophysicist Nicolae Donici - 150 Years of Light".

This initiative aims to present, in an accessible and concise manner, the remarkable life and achievements of Nicolae Donici (September 1/13, 1874 - November 21, 1960), a descendant of an old noble family from Moldova. Donici was a pioneering figure in the field of astronomy, internationally recognized as an Honorary Member of the Romanian Academy, Doctor Honoris Causa of the University of Coimbra in Portugal, and one of the early members of the International Astronomical Union. His research on solar eclipses and cosmic phenomena earned him worldwide recognition in the scientific community.

A significant moment in his scientific career was the establishment of a private astronomical observatory in 1908 at Dubăsarii Vechi, on his aunt's estate. Dedicated to the study of astral phenomena, this observatory gained international fame due to Donici's ingenuity in adapting and improving his equipment. Among his notable achievements was the construction, in 1909, of a spectroheliograph, which he used to photograph the solar chromosphere in K rays (calcium), making it the only such equipment in Eastern Europe at the time. His detailed research on photospheric granules, chromospheric filaments, and solar prominences significantly advanced scientific knowledge in this field.

The exhibition also highlights Nicolae Donici's contributions to the International Astronomical Union (IAU), where he had a remarkable presence. He was an active member of several scientific commissions, including the Solar Physics Commission and the Solar Eclipses Commission. Donici attended all eight IAU congresses held between 1922 and 1955, in cities such as Rome, Cambridge, Leiden, Paris, and Stockholm. At the 1935 Paris congress, he presented the results of his research on the solar atmosphere, conducted at his observatory in Dubăsarii Vechi. His proposal to include the study of zodiacal light in the program of the Solar Atmosphere Commission was adopted, further establishing him as a leader in international astronomical research.

The 20 panels of the exhibition provide an extensive overview of his life and work, highlighting his importance as a pioneer of global astronomy and his role in advancing solar research. Through these materials, visitors will not only learn about Donici's scientific achievements but also gain insight into his lasting legacy for world science.

The exhibition can be viewed from September 15 to October 15, 2024, on the fence of the National Museum of History of Moldova, Chișinău, 121A, 31 August 1989 Street.