#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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The 2023 World Press Photo Exhibition Opening

November 15, 2023

For seven years, the public has had the opportunity to learn the stories behind some of the most powerful photographs that mark humanity. The exhibition opened on November 15 at the National Museum of History of Moldova, where the winning photographs of the most prestigious photo competition in the world were presented. The seventh international exhibition “World Press Photo” is organized by the World Press Photo Foundation from the Netherlands in partnership with the Center for Independent Journalism and the Piko Creative Agency, with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Chisinau.

The opening of the World Press Photo Exhibition, traditionally held under the general title “Stories that Matter”, was attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Chisinau, journalists, photographers, students and photography enthusiasts.

At the opening, the General Director of the National Museum of History of Moldova Dr. habil, Eugen Sava delivered a welcoming speech, emphasizing the significance of the World Press Photo Exhibition, and especially of the stories, often tragic, behind these photographs. Ms. Maaike Keizer, Deputy Head of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Chisinau, in her speech highly appreciated the fact that for seven years the Moldavian public can enjoy this world-renowned exhibition, emphasizing that an independent press is one of the most important pillars of a democratic society. Also, the coordinator of the World Press Photo Exhibition (Netherlands) Mariana Rettore Baptista gave an online speech in which she emphasized that this competition is intended for professional photographers from all over the world, and every year an independent jury selects the best from all regions of the world. Ms. Nadine Gogu, Executive Director of the Center for Independent Journalism (CJI), spoke about the importance of visual journalism in communication, including online communication, and the role of this exhibition for the Republic of Moldova.

The winning images of the 2023 World Press Photo draw attention to the biggest challenges facing humanity today – documenting the war in Ukraine and its impact on civilians, the historic protests in Iran, the realities of Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, the many aspects of the climate crisis in such countries as Morocco, Australia, Peru, Kazakhstan. At the same time, the contest highlights the importance of press photography throughout the world.

Photography enthusiasts can visit the World Press Photo Exhibition at the National Museum of History of Moldova for the next three weeks, until December 6, 2023.

#Exhibit of the Month

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

The 2023 World Press Photo Exhibition Opening

November 15, 2023

#Exhibit of the Month