#Exhibit of the Month

Buckles (paftale) are an almost indispensable element of traditional women's dress in the Southeastern European area, particularly in the Balkans, and have been in use over a long period, from the 14th to the 20th century.
The word pafta is of Turkic origin-possibly entering the language via Iranian influence-derived from the Persian word bafta, meaning "woven," which evolved in Turkish to signify "plate." Today, the term is used in nearly identical forms in Romanian (pafta), Bulgarian (пафта), Serbian (пафте), and some Aromanian dialects (pafta), designating functional and ornamental clothing accessories used to fasten belts, girdles, or sashes, crafted from various materials and decorated using different techniques.
The three buckles decorated in the polychrome enamel technique, preserved in the collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova, belong to the South-Danubian tradition and are dated to the late 19th - early 20th century.

Each buckle consists of two identical trapezoidal parts, their surfaces divided into three roughly equal registers, adorned with stylized vegetal motifs forming a metal lattice into which enamel is poured. The two parts extend into sharp angles at the ends, forming a triangle with the edge of the last decorative register, similarly ornamented. The enamel used to fill the floral motifs is black, turquoise, white, orange, green, yellow, and burgundy. The entire decorative field is framed by a beaded border.

On the reverse, both components retain a copper band riveted along the edge, used to fasten the ends of the belt. The fastening system, made by interlocking the hinges of the two parts and secured with a movable pin attached by a chain to a clasp fixed on one of the buckle pieces, is concealed by a rectangular plate (riveted with three pins to the body of the piece), with narrow edges ending in sharp angles, decorated in the same style and technique. Additionally, it features three circular settings with notched edges bent inward to hold centrally placed red and green glass paste. These settings are framed by a radiant, notched band.

The symbolism of the color palette encodes meanings and symbols, chosen for their believed magical powers. Red has always represented love, affection, and protection against curses and the evil eye; white symbolizes purity and spiritual and physical cleanliness; blue is symbolically associated with infinity, morning, new beginnings, and transformation; green represents destiny, hope, prosperity, balance, and rebirth, being linked to nature's revival each spring and to life itself.

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The scientific-practical seminar "The system of administration of archaeological heritage in the museums of the Republic of Moldova"

June 14, 2023

On June 14, 2023, in the Blue Hall of the National Museum of History of Moldova, took place the scientific-practical seminar "Archaeological Heritage Management System in the Museums of the Republic of Moldova", organized in collaboration with the National Archaeological Agency and under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Moldova.

The event, which took place as part of the European Days of Archaeology, brought together museum institutions subordinated to local public authorities in the Republic of Moldova. Participants had the opportunity to interact and learn from established specialists in the field of archaeology, who brought up current issues regarding the protection and enhancement of archaeological heritage.

The seminar was divided into two main sections. In the first section, the specialist communications were supported by the following experts:

Dr. hab. Gheorghe Postică addressed the topic of archaeological heritage from the perspective of local museums in the Republic of Moldova, Dr. Vlad Vornic discussed the current issues of protecting archaeological heritage and national legislation, Dr. Sergiu Popovici reported on the current status of the register of archaeological sites in the Republic of Moldova, Dr. Ion Tentiuc supported a case study entitled "The local museum and archaeological research in the town of Chisinau", and Dr. Vasile Iucal, the director of the Museum of History and Ethnography in Ungheni, discussed the experiences and problems in capitalizing on the mobile archaeological heritage at the Museum of History and Ethnography from Ungheni.

The second section of the seminar was dedicated to free discussions between researchers and representatives of local museums regarding the archaeological heritage management system. The participants had the opportunity to discuss the identification, protection and promotion of archaeological heritage, the formation of an electronic database, the preservation and exhibition of archaeological heritage, the synthesis of archaeological heritage, the ways of collecting movable archaeological artifacts in local museums, as well as the role of museums in combating archaeological poaching and in the identification and protection of archaeological sites.

The seminar represented a valuable opportunity for learning and exchange of experience between specialists in the field of archeology and local museums. The participants had the opportunity to consolidate their knowledge, explore innovative approaches and identify ways to improve the archaeological heritage management system in the museums of the Republic of Moldova.