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.
A new law - a new perspective for the archaeological heritage preservation in the Republic of Moldova
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. V [XX], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
In this paper the author is doing one of the first presentations of the Law of the Republic of Moldova on archaeological Heritage Preservation recently approved by the Parliament. Since 1993 we have a general Law on monument preservation, but there archaeological part is very poor developed. This is the first such Law in the legislation of Moldova and is done according to the European and International Convention which were signed last years by the Republic of Moldova. So, the Law content 48 articles concentrated in 11th chapters. In 1st chapter are presented the most important terms on the field: archaeological heritage, general juridical regime of the archaeological discoveries and research, etc. The 2nd chapter is devoted to the system and mechanisms of the archaeological heritage preservation. One of the most important parts of this chapter is the interdiction of using without permission the metal detectors. The 3rd chapter is dedicated to the responsibilities of the local and central public administration and working instruments in the field of archaeological heritage preservation. For first time in the Moldovan legislation is mentioned that the Ministry of Culture is obliged to register all private collections of the archaeological goods. The Law establishes foundation under the Ministry of Culture a new structure responsible for archaeological heritage reservation – National Archaeological Agency, as an executive body. Also, a re very well described the content of the National Archaeological Repertory, the National Archaeological Register, and Register of the archaeologists as important documents which should be done by the Government as instrument for preservation policies. In the 4th chapter are presented the attributes of the local public administration in the field of archaeological heritage preservation. The 5th chapter is encouraging the cooperation of the state bodies with NGOs and non-profit foundations. The 6th chapter is giving details on the priority interest archaeological areas. The 7th chapter is describing the principles, norms and mechanism of the research, conservation and restoration of the archaeological heritage. The 8th chapter is establishing the rules and legal regime of the temporary export and import of the archaeological goods. The 9th chapter is devoted to the financial issues. The 10th chapter is accounting the situations of contraventions in the field of archaeological heritage which should be penalizing according to the Civil, Contravention and Criminal Codes of the Republic of Moldova. The last, 11th chapter content the final dispositions addresses to the Government and Ministry of Culture, which should in three months after the Law will be in force to found the National Archaeological Agency and a list of norms in the field. Also, it is establishing the term of entrance in force of this law – in three month after publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Moldova (Monitorul Oficial). So, the new Law is giving a new opportunity for Moldovan society to improve the situation in the field of the archaeological heritage, to fight the black archaeology and illegal trafficking of antiquities, etc.
Sergiu Musteață
Marcin Woloszyn (Ed.), Byzantine coins in central Europe between 5th and 10th century. Proceedings from the conference organized by Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences and Institute of Archaeology University of Reszow under the patronage of Union Academique International. (Programme No. 57 Moravia Magna). Krakow, 23-26 IV 2007. Moravia Magna. Seria Polona III, Krakow, 2009, 684 pp., ISBN 978-83-7676-008-7
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VI [XXI], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Sergiu Musteață
Stefan Ihrig, Wer sind die Moldawier? Rumänismus versus Moldowanismus in Historiographie und Schulbüchern der Republik Moldova, 1991-2006, Stuttgart: ibidem-Verlag, 2008, ISBN-10: 3-89821-466-4
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. III [XVIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Sergiu Musteață
Preservation of the historic heritage in USA
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. II [XVII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Sergiu Musteață
Florin Curta, (Ed.), The Other Europe in the Middle Ages. Avars, Bulgars, Khazars and Cumans, Florin Curta, General Editor, East Central and Eastern Europe in the Middle Ages, 450-1450, volume 2, Leiden/Boston: BRILL, 2008, ISSN 1872-8103, ISBN 978 90 04 16389 8
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. III [XVIII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Sergiu Musteață
Ethics and Professional Deontology in Archaeology
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. III [XVIII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
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)...
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.
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.
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.
31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
