#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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National Scientific Conference „30 years since the War for the Defense of Independence and Territorial Integrity of the Republic of Moldova (1992)”

Chisinau, February 25-26, 2022

From 25 to 26 February, 2022, the two institutions, the State University of Moldova (60 A. Mateevici Street, Central Block, Gheorghe Brătianu Room, no. 530) and the National Museum of History of Moldova (31 August 1989 Street, 121A), held the National Scientific Conference “30 years since the War for the Defense of the Independence and Territorial Integrity of the Republic of Moldova” (online format), organized by the State University of Moldova, the National Museum of History of Moldova and the Alexandru Moșanu Association of Historians of the Republic of Moldova.

At the National Museum of History of Moldova, the conference was organized within the institutional project “Museum heritage and historical memory: research, interpretation, presentation” (20.80009.0807.43).

The Conference was attended by historians, lawyers, senior reserve officers, participants in the Dniester War, political scientists and analysts, specialists in other fields. During the event, topics related to the causes that led to military intervention of the Russian Federation against the Republic of Moldova were addressed. and the undeniable arguments of involving citizens of the Russian Federation in the war (Cossacks, mercenaries, dangerous elements released especially from penitentiaries, but also the soldiers of the 14^th Army, illegally stationed on the Sovereign and Independent territory of the Republic of Moldova) were reaffirmed. The war has killed and wounded civilians and the military, caused economic devastation, deprivation, suffering and pain.

The first day of the conference, February 25, 2022, opened at 9:00 with a welcoming speech by Dr. habil. Anatolie PETRENCU, State University of Moldova, who also moderated the event.

The welcoming speech was joined by Dr. habil. Eugen SAVA, General Director of the National Museum of History of Moldova; Associate Professor Igor ŞAROV, Rector of the State University of Moldova; Dr. Viorel Cibotaru, former Minister of Defense of the Republic of Moldova, Director of the European Institute for Political Studies in the Republic of Moldova.

The moderators of the plenary session were: Dr. habil. Anatolie PETRENCU and Dr. Ion NEGREI, Institute of History, Ministry of Education and Research.

During the plenary session, which began at 9:30, the floor was taken by Dr. Anatol ȚARANU, ex-ambassador, with the communication “Oxymoron of the Dniester war: propaganda versus reality”; Oazu NANTOI, Member of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, with the communication “Transformation of the phenomenon “Transnistrian Conflict” and the perspective of the statehood of the Republic of Moldova”; Anatolie NOSATÂI, Minister of Defense of the Republic of Moldova, and Dr. Vitalie CIOBANU, colonel, with the communication “The Russian 14^th Army in the Dniester War”.

The Scientific Conference brought together 37 participants from 2 countries:

7 participants from Romania;
30 participants from the Republic of Moldova.

In total – 18.92% from Romania and 81.08% from the Republic of Moldova.

At the Scientific Conference, 37 papers were registered on the agenda, including 5 papers at the plenary session (all 5 papers from the Republic of Moldova).

The Scientific Conference was held in two sections:

Section I, from 13:00 to 17:00, at the State University of Moldova (60 A. Mateevici Street, Central Block, Gheorghe Brătianu Room, no. 530):

Moderators: Dr. Ion Valer XENOFONTOV, Dr. Constantin CORNEANU

16 communications were expected.

Participants from the Republic of Moldova: 12.

Participants from Romania: 4.

In total – 25 % from Romania and 75 % from the Republic of Moldova.

Section II, from 13:00 to 17:00, at the National Museum of History of Moldova (31 August 1989 Street, 121A):

Moderators: Dr. Marius TĂRÂȚĂ, Anatolie POVESTCA

15 communications were expected. 10 communications were presented (66,66%)

Participants from the Republic of Moldova: 12.

Participants from Romania: 3.

In total – 20 % from Romania and 80 % from the Republic of Moldova.

The share of participating institutions from the Republic of Moldova:

* National Museum of History of Moldova – 3 communications (members of the institutional project).

* State University of Moldova – 6 communications.

* Ion Creangă State Pedagogical University in Chișinău – 1 communication.

* Center of Excellence in Computer Science and Information Technology – 1 communication.

* Institute for Effective Policy – 1 communication.

* Institute of History – 2 communications.

* Metropolis of Bessarabia – 1 communication.

* Doctoral School of the Military Academy of the Armed Forces – 1 communication.

* ex-deputy, ex-ambassador, ex-prime minister, ex-minister of defense - 6 communications.

* veterans and military – 6 communications.

* journalist and writer – 2 communications.

In total – 30 communications from the Republic of Moldova.

The share of participating institutions from Romania:

* Academy of Romanian Scientists – 1 communication.

* Stephen the Great University in Suceava – 1 communication.

* Alexandru Ioan Cuza University in Iași – 1 communication.

* Lower Danube University, Galați – 1 communication.

* Black Sea House Association, Constanța – 1 communication.

* Gheorghe I. Brătianu European Association for Geopolitical and Strategic Studies, Bucharest

- 1 communication.

* Society of Historical Sciences, Constanța branch – 1 communication.

In total – 7 communications from Romania.

Conclusions

The National Scientific Conference organized by the State University of Moldova, the National Museum of History of Moldova and the Alexandru Moșanu Association of Historians of the Republic of Moldova brought together 37 researchers from 2 countries – 18.92% from Romania and 81.08% from the Republic Moldova.

Within Section II, out of the 15 communications included on the agenda, 10 communications were presented (66.66%): 1 communication (6.66%) from Romania and 9 communications (60%) from the Republic of Moldova.

Of the 5 communications (33.33%) that were not presented in Section II, 2 communications (13.33%) are from Romania and 3 communications (20%) are from the Republic of Moldova.

The messages of the participants were distinguished by thematic diversity, new methodological approaches to the problem, interdisciplinary research, and new materials. Most of the messages were accompanied by graphic presentations and photographs. There were no serious technical problems with the Internet signal, which made it possible to hold plenary and section meetings in accordance with the established schedule.

On Saturday, February 26, 2022, at the National Museum of History of Moldova (31 August 1989 Street, 121A), at 10:00, the photo exhibition “Memory of an Undeclared War” was opened.

Responsible persons: Dr. Elena POSTICĂ, National Museum of History of Moldova,

Maria GOGU-ZINOVII, doctoral student, State University of Moldova / National Archives Agency.