#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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Events Archive

Book Launch: Ion Țurcanu – "Izvodul pătimirilor"

September 12, 2024

On September 12, 2024, the Blue Hall of the National Museum of History of Moldova hosted the launch of "Izvodul pătimirilor" by Ion Țurcanu, recently published by ARC. The book brings to the forefront one of the most distressing periods in the recent history of Bessarabia - the famine of 1946-1947, a devastating episode that profoundly impacted the region's social and demographic structure.

The event gathered a diverse audience, including historians, researchers, and individuals interested in contemporary Moldovan history. The launch was moderated by the author, Ion Țurcanu, who provided a detailed introduction to the book's content and the historical context in which the famine occurred. He spoke about the extensive research and documentation process that underpinned this volume, highlighting the sources and materials used to offer readers a clear understanding of this tragic phenomenon.

The event also featured special guest speakers, renowned historians Igor Cașu, Ion Șișcanu, and Anatol Țăranu, who made brief contributions to the subject, emphasizing the importance of thoroughly researching this period to grasp the full scope of the famine's consequences on the Bessarabian population. They pointed out the significance of Ion Țurcanu's book in complementing the existing historical literature on the topic and stressed the value of such works in preserving the region's historical memory.
The audience actively participated in the discussions, engaging with the author and guests through a Q&A session. This interactive segment was a key part of the event, allowing for a deeper exploration of post-war issues, as well as the economic and social policies that led to the famine in Bessarabia.

The launch of "Izvodul pătimirilor" was organized in partnership with the National Museum of History of Moldova and was a successful event, drawing significant interest from the general public. It provided a unique opportunity for attendees to delve into a challenging yet crucial subject for understanding Bessarabia's past and the social and economic transformations of the post-war period.

Through this event, the National Museum of History of Moldova reaffirmed its commitment to promoting high-quality historical research and supporting academic debates on major topics concerning the history and culture of the Republic of Moldova.