#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.).

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Exhibitions

"Rașcov – Through Centuries and History"

November 22 – December 6, 2024

The National Museum of History of Moldova, in partnership with the Belarusian Cultural Center in Moldova and the Agency for Interethnic Relations, invites you to the opening of the exhibition "Rașcov - Through Centuries and History" on November 22 at 3:00 PM, in the upper-level hall of the museum.

This exhibition offers an artistic and historical perspective on a village located on the banks of the Nistru River, boasting a cultural heritage spanning over 900 years.

The first documented mention of Rașcov dates back to the 14th century, a period when the lands on the left bank of the Nistru were part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1402, the fortress "Kalaur" was listed among the cities and castles of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, near which the settlement of Rașcov developed. By the 17th century, Rașcov had become an important commercial hub.

Over the centuries, Rașcov witnessed the harmonious coexistence of various ethnic and religious communities, each contributing to the town's economic and cultural development. At different times, Moldovans, Russians, Ukrainians, Jews, Poles, and Armenians called Rașcov home.

The exhibition features the works of artist Veaceslav Ignatenco, a member of the Union of Plastic Artists of Moldova and the Union of Designers of the USSR. Ignatenco, a recipient of the Francis Skaryna Medal (2015) and the honorary title Master of Arts (2019), draws inspiration from Rașcov's landscapes and history. His creations vividly depict the interplay between nature, architecture, and the region's cultural diversity. Each piece reflects the deep connection between humanity and its environment, as well as the indelible mark of history on this unique place.

The works, created by the artist over the years, highlight various significant historical landmarks, such as St. Cajetan Church (1749), one of the oldest Catholic churches in Moldova, The Orthodox Church of the Protection of the Mother of God (1740), The Holy Trinity Church (1779), and the impressive Red Rock, a symbol of the region.

The exhibition "Rașcov - Through Centuries and History" will be open to visitors from November 22 to December 6, 2024, at the National Museum of History of Moldova, Chișinău, 31 August 1989 Street, No. 121A.