#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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Events Archive

The International Museum Day and European Night of Museums

18 May 2019

National Museum of History of Moldova, under the patronage of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research, organized on May 18, 2019, between 10.00 – 24.00, the International Museum Day and European Night of Museums. This year the events was held under the theme “Museums as Cultural Hubs: The future of tradition”.

Program included:

Visit of the Exhibitions

1. Permanent exhibitions „History and civilization”

2. Innovatic Fest Roboshow, rooms 1-4, 10:00 – 24:00

At the exhibition visitors enjoyed the poetry recitals by the Tespian robot and danced together with the dancing robots, remained amazed at the ease with which robot spiders overcome obstacles and fascinated for life by the star of the Las Vegas Innovation Exhibition 2019 - the puppy Aibo!

Access to the exhibition “Innovatic fest” was possible with discounted tickets.

3. “Bucharest: a Novecento portrait”, the lobby, from 10:00 to 24:00

The temporary exhibition about the 20^th century Bucharest bringed this city to the attention of the public from the perspective of a twentieth-century journey, without limiting itself to the evolution of urban society, but also trying to show some changes in behavior, way of life, concerns, living and indoor surroundings.

4. “Fashion and style in Chişinău and Bucharest of the 30s", room 12 / Blue Room, 10:00 - 24:00

A unique collection of dresses of the famous stars of the Romanian stage and some of the most rare accessories from the 30's of the 20^th century. Every dress has a special story.

The exhibition represents a retrospective of fashionable silhouettes of those years, which fits perfectly with the interior of the National Museum of History of Moldova. Guests will also be able to admire several images that demonstrate the beauty, elegance, expressiveness of the silhouettes and the glow of the creations of that time.

5. New pieces from the collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova.

In the framework of the exhibition “Antiquity and Medieval Age” were presented, for the first time, copies of two metopes from the Trajan's Column and the layout of the Căuşeni Church.

Participation in the Events

1. Book presentation „Piese de giuvaergie antică din colecțiile Muzeului Național de Istorie a Moldovei”, author Ana Niculiță, blue room of the museum, 12:00.

2. Chamber music concert, National Chamber Orchestra, Conductor Vladimir Andrieș, blue room of the museum, 13:30 – 14:30

3. Musical show performed by the students of the lyceum S. Rahmaninov, blue room of the museum, 16:00 – 17:00

4. A movie at the museum. „Expedițiile memoriei”, room 10 / Modern history. OWH Studio; recent productions from the Cronograf Festival. 17:00 – 20:00

5. Painting on ceramics workshop. Room 6 / Red Room.

Workshop by Svetlana Şugjda (Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, “Ion Creangă” State Pedagogical University) and Alena Stoica, ceramist artist. Visitors had the opportunity to paint decorative motifs typical for the Cucuteni culture and to take home their works. My pot - my work! from 10:00 to 16:00

6. Medieval calligraphy workshop. Room 8.

Handing feathers and nibs on old paper with wonderful inks, visitors wrote their own letters and papers, strengthened them with the seal of the museum and gave them to their loved ones. No one left the museum without a memory! from 10:00 to 16:00

7. Craftsmen fair (with selling). Museum courtyard, 10:00 – 20:00

Creative workshops with the participation of craftsmen

Ion Prividiuc – potter

Grigore Pasternac – carpenter

Oksana Bureak – jewelry from leather and natural stones

Victor Pelin - carpenter

Nadejda Sîrbu – toys from clay

Olga Koshel – potter

8. Night concert, museum courtyard, from 20:30 – 23:00

... and other beautiful surprises!

On May 18, 2019, between 10:00 and 24:00 hours, access to the museum's rooms and participation in all activities from the program, with the exception of the Innovatic fest exhibition, were free of charge.

#Exhibit of the Month

Scythian bronze cauldron from Răscăieții Noi

The International Museum Day and European Night of Museums

18 May 2019

Participation in the Events

#Exhibit of the Month