#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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Abstract of the Institutional project "The role of museum heritage in the development of contemporary society (2015-2018)"

In the period 2015-2018, the researchers (29) of the National Museum of History of Moldova have implemented the institutional project The Role of museum heritage in the development of contemporary society within the Strategic Direction “National heritage and the development of society”.

Within the framework of the project, the research and systematization of some historical, documentary, archeological, numismatic and postal card collections has led to the identification of new heritage values and their scientific and public valorization at national and international level for the benefit of contemporary society. It also contributed to the conceptualization of the educational role of the museum in the community and to a further digitalization of cultural goods and promotion of museum heritage.

The research of cultural heritage assets: archaeological collections, photographic collections, icons collection, collection of old books from different historical periods has provided new data and information which created opportunities for their use to improve the exhibition narrative and facilitate the access of the public to information and cultural heritage owned by the museum.

In the museum and archive collections were discovered new photo and documentary testimonies about the life of the Lazo noble family from the modern age Bessarabia, were recovered cultural, material, three-dimensional assets that allowed a final reconstruction of the Lazo family mansion as a museum and tourist objective, as a true testimony of cultural identity. The new scientific data found in the archival files allowed us to present the appropriate material and moral environment of the Lazo family mansion from Piatra with all passed generations and the time they lived in, intertwined with major personalities of the manor who have made history and have contributed to the development of the Bessarabian society over the centuries.

The role of the museum's relationship with the public and of museum education have been identified, from the nineteenth century to the present. A serious contribution was made to the real dimension of the Moldovan museum's relationship with the visitor, the role and the usefulness of the museum institution in the contemporary society. Based on social and psychological research of the public, was identified the role of the museum in the consciousness of the visitors. The right and the privilege to enter the contemporary museum were determined, also the prospects for the evolution of the museum's relationship with the public.

The criteria for keeping track of the museum public were identified, analyzed and structured for the whole period of existence of the museum as a public institution and were established the categories of public for the contemporary museum institution.

In the framework of the project was collected information on over 1,000 coins discovered in Costeşti, Ialoveni district, from public and private collections. Preliminary conclusions were made with reference to the structure of coins discovered on the site. Therefore the discoveries of coins from Costeşti consists of monetary issues of the Byzantine Empire, the Golden Horde, Serbia, Bulgaria, Czechia (14th century), Moldova (15th century), Sweden (17th century), the Kingdom of Poland (16th-17th centuries), the Ottoman Empire (15th-18th centuries), the Russian Empire (18th century). For the Golden Horde coins were discovered coins, previously not identified, such as Seljuk coins, issues by some beyliks from Anatolia, Eretna, Gandar, etc. Monetary discoveries from the 15th to the 18th centuries show that after the exit of this area from the authority of the Golden Horde the settlement continued its existence.

In the archives of Poland (Warsaw and Poznan) and Russia (Saint Petersburg and Moscow) new original documents and reproductions of the 18th century documents were found about the Cantemir dynasty and the Movileşti family from the 17th-18th, considered up until recently irretrievably lost. Documentary research in the archive and museum provided the opportunity to publish for the first time 26 unknown documents related to the law, will, finances, estate and family heritage and 38 personal letters of Maria Cantemir to Antioh Cantemir.

The archaeological excavations carried out at the Taraclia-Gaidabul site resulted in important discoveries referring to the elements of building, life style and material culture of the Sabatinovka culture communities.

During the archaeological research in Varniţa, were discovered the remains of the foundation of a stone building which is considered, based on the comparative analysis of archaeological resources, of the written documentary sources, of the descriptions, plans and drawings of the period, to be the Chancellery of King Charles XII of Sweden which operated in Varniţa between 1711 and 1713.

The results of the research within the institutional project have been valorized through various scientific and public forms in the country and abroad.

Publications: total 390, among which 12 monographs. Every year, were published two issues of the museum’s scientific journal Tyragetia.

The collaboration of the museum with various institutions in the republic and abroad resulted in the organization of scientific events, in the common public valorization of the historical and cultural heritage, in active participation in various research initiatives, including archaeological excavations. In the years 2015-2018 were organized 14 national scientific conferences and 8 international scientific conferences. The annual scientific conference of the museum History Archeology Museology reached its 29^th edition, and the International Numismatic Symposium reached its 17^th edition. The museum's researchers participated at 140 scientific conferences in the period 2015-2018, at 10 events with international participation, and at 141 international events held in the republic and abroad.

Museum researchers contributed to heritage development by collecting 5881 new cultural goods through research and acquisition. The researchers from the museum participated in the digitization of museum collections in the years 2015-2018 - 9368 analytical files.

Owing to international support, the museum's researchers have had internships in Romania, Germany, Poland, France and Russia.

The museum continued to be a scientific methodological base for students and master students of Moldova State University and the State Pedagogical University "Ion Creanga" who carry their museum, archaeological, ethnographic, heritage internships.

The results of the scientific research have been presented to the public in several temporary thematic exhibitions in the republic and abroad. The researchers have drafted the concept and thematic structure of each exhibition - 20 in total.

Museum researchers have provided specialist assistance to several public and private institutions.

The results of the research have been disseminated to the general public through various promotional materials, dozens of radio and TV programs.