#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.

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Exhibitions

"With coats of arms at the table - in the world and at home..."

Exhibition of everyday objects dedicated to the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the Heraldry Cabinet within the Office of the President of the Republic of Moldova

March 30 – April 30, 2023

In our century, coats of arms represent the most solemn segment of emblems in use. Their highly elaborate artistic aspect and the enciphered symbolism that cannot be penetrated at first adds to the solemnity a touch of mystery intimidating to the man of today. Or, once the coat of arms could be seen everywhere, because it also had the function of a property mark. It was worn by numerous objects, including everyday and not very solemn ones.

On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the Heraldry Cabinet within the Office of the President of the Republic of Moldova (April 1, 2013, by the appointment of the first State Heraldist of the Republic of Moldova), this exhibition is part of the series of events promoting heraldic knowledge and use, supported by the National Commission of Heraldry attached to the President of the Republic of Moldova, from the moment of its establishment, with the support of traditional scientific partners, among which the National Museum of History of Moldova takes the leading place.

The purpose of the exhibition is to sensitize public opinion on the fact that a coat of arms can and must be used in everyday life without any restraint, in some mundane activities and situations. It is primarily about family and territorial coats of arms, because national symbols - official, cultural and natural - have never left our visual space, occupying more and more space.

The table, which brings together family members or friends, colleagues or relatives, has always been an opportunity to promote ideas. Table, tea and coffee services, cutlery, napkins and tablecloths, adjacent decorations and surrounding furniture began to be decorated with coats of arms right from the appearance of heraldic insignia. Thus, the compartments "A tea with a coat of arms", "A cup of coffee with a coat of arms", "A dairy with a coat of arms", "A beer with a coat of arms", "A wine with a coat of arms", "A strong drink with a coat of arms", "At the table with the Dutch royal family" reflects precisely this extremely widespread worldwide use of the coat of arms and complementary emblems.

The compartment "At the work table with coat of arms" marks the use of armoured objects when the man is working: at the writing table, at the sewing table, etc. Two other compartments "At the gaming table with a coat of arms" and "At a cigarette with a coat of arms" mark the other facet of human nature - the pleasure of entertainment. Two applied, historical domains were chosen, which also correspond to the structure of the collection.

The last two sections - "Daily heraldic use in the Republic of Moldova" and "Daily heraldic use in Romania" - present the situation in the Romanian space, which has not evolved much and is still mainly limited to the promotion of national heraldic symbols - the coat of arms and the state flag -, the other types of heraldic and complementary emblems remaining in the shadows. This exhibition is organized precisely to change this situation in our country, where the economic premises already allow the embodiment of such ideas that must not be delayed.

After the exhibition closes, most of the exhibited pieces, with historical value, will be donated to the Museum.

The exhibition "With the coat of arms on the table - in the world and at home..." will be open from March 30 to April 30, 2023, in the hall on the ground floor of the National History Museum of Moldova, str. 31 August 1989, 121A.