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#Exhibit of the Month

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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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#Exhibit of the Month

July 2022

The Vărvăreuca Hoard

A hoard of bronze objects is understood as the intentional depositing in the ground, possibly in water, a swamp or an abyss of at least two bronze artifacts that are not related to grave goods or the remains of settlements. This is the result of conscious activity carried out in well-established manifestations in prehistoric societies. The custom of laying bronze objects began in the middle of the Bronze Age and continued with periods of peak and decline until the middle of the Iron Age. Finds of this kind are known throughout Europe and to the east, to the territory of Kazakhstan. Depending on the functional purpose of their constituent objects, there are hoards of one functional category, hoards of two functional categories, hoards of complex composition and heterogeneous hoards.

The significance of these deposits is interpreted in the literature in different ways. Some researchers believe that the hoards of bronze objects are of a secular nature (craftsmen's hoards that had to be recovered for reuse), others attribute them a sacred character (based on several criteria, such as composition, placement and laying in a certain way, intentional fragmentation of some objects).

About 20 such deposits are known on the territory of the Republic of Moldova, mostly random finds, of which only 9 (Antonești, Călmățui, Chișinău, Dancu, Haragîș, Lozova, Mîndrești, Ocnița and Vărvărăuca) are kept in the storages of the National Museum of History of Moldova. The rest of the hoards are in private collections. Archaeological complexes of this kind, discovered on the territory of our country, belong to the late Bronze Age (16th-13th centuries BC) and the early Iron Age (11th-10th centuries BC). Those dated to the Late Bronze Age are attributed to the Noua-Sabatinovka cultural block, whose communities inhabited this space during the period under consideration. The hoards contain items from the categories of tools, weapons, and, to a lesser extent, adornments. The most impressive complex of this type known on the territory of our country is the bronze objects deposit discovered in the village of Lozovo, which is presented to the attention of visitors in room No. 1 of the National Museum of History of Moldova.

The Vărvăreuca hoard was discovered by V. I. Markevich on the territory of the Eneolithic settlement of Vărvăreuca VIII. It contains 11 objects and is a hoard of complex composition, with tools, weapons and adornments. The tools are represented by two celts of the Eastern type and four sickles with holes in the handles (the so-called Heleșteni type). The weapon category is present with a dagger handle with a flattened and beautifully ornamented spherical end. The adornments are two bracelets, made of a bar oval in section, with loose ends and geometric ornament, and two earrings. The latter are made of thin bronze wire twisted concentrically and are unique items.

Currently, more and more complexes of this type are being discovered by treasure hunters, whose goal is the financial profit obtained from the sale of artifacts on the black market. Such illegal actions deprive these finds of their archaeological context and the possibility of historical and scientific development. Most often, these hoards are scattered among various private collections or sold abroad. Therefore, we call on the public to be conscientious and responsible, and if such objects are found, hand them over to specialized institutions.



 

 


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#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)...

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The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
©2006-2024 National Museum of History of Moldova
Visit museum 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
Phones:
Secretariat: +373 (22) 24-43-25
Department of Public Relations and Museum Education: +373 (22) 24-04-26
Fax: +373 (22) 24-43-69
E-mail: office@nationalmuseum.md
Technical Support: info@nationalmuseum.md
Web site administration and maintenance: Andrei EMILCIUC

 



The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
©2006-2024 National Museum of History of Moldova
Visit museum 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
Phones:
Secretariat: +373 (22) 24-43-25
Department of Public Relations and Museum Education: +373 (22) 24-04-26
Fax: +373 (22) 24-43-69
E-mail: office@nationalmuseum.md
Technical Support: info@nationalmuseum.md
Web site administration and maintenance: Andrei EMILCIUC

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The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
©2006-2024 National Museum of History of Moldova
Visit museum 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
Phones:
Secretariat: +373 (22) 24-43-25
Department of Public Relations and Museum Education: +373 (22) 24-04-26
Fax: +373 (22) 24-43-69
E-mail: office@nationalmuseum.md
Technical Support: info@nationalmuseum.md
Web site administration and maintenance: Andrei EMILCIUC