#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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"Author's Wine Festival"

September 2, 2023

On September 2, in the courtyard of the National Museum of History of Moldova, the first "Author's Wine Festival" took place, an event that brought together over 30 small winemakers, to proudly present their creations and to share the unique flavors of its wines.

This event was organized by the Association of Small Winemakers from Moldova, with the support of USAID in Moldova and the National Office of Vine and Wine.

Diana Lazăr, director of the USAID Rural Competitiveness and Resilience Project, emphasized the importance of this festival as a promotion platform for signature wines, those that express the creativity and authenticity of Moldovan producers.

Vladimir Bolea, Minister of Agriculture, emphasized the importance of the event for life in villages, highlighting that niche wines produced from local varieties represent a development potential for rural tourism in the Republic of Moldova.

The US Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, Kent D. Logsdon, emphasized the constant support given to small producers by the United States, highlighting that this festival represented a special opportunity for visitors, not only to taste exceptional wines, but also to get to know the producers behind these creations.

Elizaveta Breahnă, interim director of the National Vine and Wine Office, noted the positive evolution of the wine industry in Moldova, with an emphasis on quality and authenticity, in contrast to previous practices. The presence of 33 producers at this festival is a significant step in the right direction.

The "Author's Wine Festival" demonstrated that the Republic of Moldova has a rich winemaking tradition and a growing industry, especially in the segment of small producers and designer wines. This event brought together wine enthusiasts and producers, contributing to the promotion of Moldovan wine culture in an innovative and authentic way.

#Exhibit of the Month

Exhibit of the Month Amber beads from a bronze hoard discovered near the town of Nisporeni

"Author's Wine Festival"

September 2, 2023

#Exhibit of the Month