#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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Book launch: "Romanian lands seen by artists from the West (15th-19th centuries)", edited by Robert Denndorf, album coordinator: Silvia Corlăteanu-Granciuc

January 26, 2023

On 26th of January, The National Musuem of History of Moldova, in collaboration with the Institute of History of the MSU, organized the launch of the work "Romanian lands seen by artists from the West (15th-19th centuries). Album", edited by Robert Denndorf (Germany). The album was coordinated by university professor Dr. Silvia Corlăteanu-Granciuc, the scientific secretary of the Institute of History of the MSU.

Historical scholars, museographers, representatives of the academic and university environment, public institutions, the Presidency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, the Ministry of Culture, the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, civil society were present at the launch event.

Dr. hab. Gheorghe Cojocaru, the director of the Institute of History, one of the forewords of the volume and the moderator of the event emphasized the contribution of Robert Denndorf, through this indisputable historiographical and aesthetic achievement, to the enrichment of the imagistic thesaurus related to the Romanian space for universal culture. "The work we are launching honors us, and it honors us, offering us the opportunity to be with him at a great fulfillment and to bring him all our gratitude and gratitude", revealed Gheorghe Cojocaru.

The General Director of NHMH, dr. hab. Eugen Sava, the host of the event, addressed a message on behalf of the collective of the institution he honorably leads, emphasizing that the release of the German writer's album is an important focus in collaboration not only in the field of national heritage, but also international. Robert Denndorf brought to light some things that were hidden in archives, in libraries, in other museums, and the release of this Album at NMHM can only honor us. Eugen Sava recalled the fact that Robert Denndorf is the oldest friend of the museum, having collaborated both through book launches and through the organization of two exhibitions, one of the last collaborations having as its purpose the donation of seven engravings, which are already included in the funds the museum. For his merits and openness towards the national heritage of the Republic of Moldova, as a sign of gratitude for his significant contribution to the development of the heritage collections of NMHM, Mr. Robert Denndorf was awarded the "Diploma of Honor".

The Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration, Oleg Serebrian, ambassador, scientist and writer, mentioned that he is present at the event more as a historian and former ambassador of the Republic of Moldova in Germany. "Mr. Denndorf has a beautiful attribution to our culture and our history, to what the Romanian space means from the Dniester to the Tisa, during the century. XV-XIX, as seen by artists, engravers from the countries of Western Europe.

The Ministry of Culture was represented by Svetlana Pociumban, head of the Cultural Heritage Directorate who emphasized the importance of works of this kind for the entire Romanian society but also for universal culture. Knowing that Robert Denndorf intends to donate to NMHM several engravings and stamps that represent moments in the history of the space between the Prut and Dniester, he promised that the Ministry of Culture, in partnership with the competent institutions, will make every effort to contribute to the adjustment of the customs legislation that will allows the unhindered bringing of works of art that wish to become part of the national heritage.

Dr. Silviu Tabac, state herald of the Republic of Moldova, member of the Office of the President of the Republic of Moldova, sent a congratulatory message from the presidential institution, in which President Maia Sandu addressed the author Robert Denndorf with wishes for new achievements in what he does.

Among the speakers, with a Diploma of Gratitude from the National Library of the Republic of Moldova, awarded to Mr. Robert Denndorf, for the free donation of 300 copies of the book about the discovery here, in Tighina, of the Swedish King Charles XII, books that will reach libraries in the Republic of Moldova, was the directorate of the National Library - Elena Pintilei.

On behalf of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, prof. dr. hab Victor Moraru, corresponding member of ASM and vice-president of the scientific forum expressed a word of gratitude addressed to the author Robert Denndorf and the coordinator of the volume Silvia Corlăteanu-Granciuc, underlining the importance for the scientific but also cultural rapprochement between the Republic of Moldova and the entire European space. Academician announced the importance of the volume for research on the history of culture. Andrei Eșanu, reputed specialist in the history of medieval and modern culture.

Dr. hab. Victor Ghilaș, the director of the Institute of Cultural Heritage (ICH) emphasized the need for historical sources, present in the works of Robert Denndorf, for the research carried out within the ICH in the field of art history arts, of music history in particular and in the field of cultural history in general.

The coordinator of the album, associate professor Dr. Silvia Corlăteanu-Granciuc, the scientific secretary of the Institute of History of the MSU, wanted to point out two moments in his intervention, the first: how this album was created and the second: its importance for researchers and for the whole society, emphasizing that capitalizing on the history of the territory between the Prut and the Dniester and across the Dniester substantially leads to the cultural and spiritual rapprochement of the Romanian shores and "all shores" of Europe. Mrs. Corlăteanu-Granciuc emphasized the fact that Robert Denndorf financially covered the appearance of this beautiful and substantial album, an important aspect in the times we live in, and the messages coming from the country's leadership, officials, state institutions but also from society, come as a high appreciation and gratitude addressed to Mr. Denndorf for the effort made, for the enormous love for history and culture and for everything that brings the Republic of Moldova closer to Europe. For his part, the main protagonist of the event, Robert Denndorf, wanted to thank everyone who contributed to the appearance of the album and announced his new future projects aimed at the Romanian space on the right side of the Prut.

The album "Romanian lands seen by artists from the West (15th-19th century)", by Robert Denndorf, represents a history in illustrations of the Romanians in their process of formation and affirmation. The volume includes 1149 images: lithographs, engravings, maps, stamps, images of fortresses, battles, various illustrations of an ethnographic character, everyday life, etc., mostly created by artists from Central and Western Europe and dating from the XV-XIX centuries. The work serves as a source for research in the field of history, in the future, in particular, for those that focus on the representation of¶ the other in the European space.