#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

International Collaboration

April 13, 2023

The visit of the ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Chisinau H.S. Yan Wenbin at the National Museum of History of Moldova

On April 13, 2023, the National Museum of History of Moldova had the honor of receiving the visit of H.E. Yan Wenbin, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China in Chisinau. The purpose of the meeting was to intensify cultural relations between Moldova and China through history, culture and museum education. In this regard, the organization of joint exhibitions, scientific conferences and study visits was discussed in order to deepen the exchange of experience in the field of research and museography.

On behalf of the National Museum of History of Moldova in the discussions participated General Director Eugen Sava, Deputy Directors Livia Sîrbu and Alexandru Argint, as well as the main communication specialist Sorin Șclearuc.

During the discussion, Mr. Eugen Sava pointed out the possibility of cooperation in terms of research, restoration and conservation of the cultural and historical heritage of both countries through direct collaboration with museums in China. For his part, the Chinese Ambassador showed great interest in the culture and history of the Republic of Moldova, emphasizing that they represent an important bridge between the two countries and peoples. At the end of the meeting, H.E. Yan Wenbin visited the halls of the museum and admired the unique collections of archeology and history.

The National Museum of History of Moldova is honored to collaborate with the People's Republic of China in the promotion and protection of cultural and historical heritage, as well as in the development of cultural and educational relations between the two countries.