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.
Ion Niculiță, Aurel Zanoci, Mihail Băț, Sergiu Matveev
Archaeological investigations at the site of Saharna Mare (2009-2011) (I)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VI [XXI], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
The Saharna Mare site (Rezina district) stands out among the monuments of the Middle Dniester area by its location and the degree of scrutiny. It is situated on a high rocky trapezoidal cape with an area of about 12 hectares, surrounded on three sides by deep canyons with inaccessible shores. Only from the south the cape is connected to the outside world.
Due to its strategic location, this area was inhabited as early as the end of the 2nd millennium B.C.
This monument drew the attention in the late 40s of the last century when there were conducted the first archaeological excavations (Smirnov, 1949, 93-96; Smirnov, 1949a, 189-202; Arnăut 2000, 93-104). Since 2001, an archaeological expedition of the Moldova State University conducts systematic research on the site. The results of studies conducted in 2001-2007 have been published in several articles and a monograph (Niculiță, Zanoci, Arnăut 2008a, 69-150). As a result of these investigations there were identified several cultural-chronological horizons: 1 - presented by complexes with incised pottery; 2 - relating to the Cozia-Saharna culture; 3 - Thracian-Getae (7th - 3rd centuries B.C.).
This article contains information about finds relating to the Cozia-Saharna culture, which were discovered as a result of the excavations of 2009-2011 carried out by five digs (13, 13A, 14, 15, 18) with the total area of 444 m2. Through the matching of orthophotomaps (fig. 4/1), the results of geomagnetic studies (fig. 3, 4/2), and archaeological research data (fig. 9/1) in the southeast of the cape there were found the remains of a “citadel” and the adjacent “fortified yard”. The “citadel” of a rounded shape (fig. 4/3), size 60×64 m (about 0,32 ha), was located on the southeastern out- skirts of the cape; it was reinforced on all sides by a moat and a wooden stone-earthen wall. The width of the moat varies from 4,2 to 6,0 m, depth – 0,7 to 1,6 m. The wall was built of two rows of wooden pillars dug vertically into the mainland loam. The space between rows was filled with stones and earth, thus forming a fortification of about 1,0-1,2 m in width.
The “citadel” had an adjacent semi-oval “yard” in the north-west side, with the dimensions of 55×78 m, which was also fortified by a moat (fig. 4/3). The width of the moat was 2-3 m, the depth – 1,0-1,4 m.
In the “citadel” there were investigated one ground construction (fig. 21), 37 household pits (fig. 23-32), and one religious construction? (fig. 33). There was also identified a sufficiently rich and varied inventory (fig. 36-45) that allowed to attribute the “citadel” and the adjacent “yard” to the Cozia-Saharna culture.
Most likely, these fortifications were designed to shelter residents of the Saharna “Dealul Mănăstirii” settlement, which was in close proximity. In addition, the “citadel” could serve as a socio-political and religious center for the Early Hallstatt population of the Saharna region (fig. 46).
List of illustrations: Fig. 1. Geographical and topographical location of the Saharna Mare site. Fig. 2. Saharna Mare. Topographical plan. Fig. 3. Saharna Mare. Topographical plan and magnetometric map. Fig. 4. Saharna Mare. Location of the Early Hallstatt “ citadel “ and the “adjacent yard”: 1 - orthophotomap (source: Google earth); 2 - magnetometric map; 3 - plan-scheme. Fig. 5. Saharna Mare. Plans and profiles of excavations 13/2009 and 14/2010. Fig. 6. Saharna Mare. The plan and profile of the excavation 13А/2010. Fig. 7. Saharna Mare. The plan and profile of the excavation 15/2010-2011. Fig. 8. Saharna Mare. The plan and profile of the excavation 18/2011. Fig. 9. Saharna Mare. Remains of fortifications of the Hallstatt „citadel”. Fig. 10. Saharna Mare. Variant of reconstruction of a defensive wall of the Hallstatt „citadel”. Fig. 11. Saharna Mare. Findings from the remains of the defensive wall: 1 - clay stamp; 2 - zoomorphic figurine. Fig. 12. Saharna Mare. Pottery from the remains of the defensive wall. Fig. 13. Saharna Mare. Pottery found at the bottom of the defensive wall. Fig. 14. Saharna Mare. Pottery found in the layer under the base of the defensive wall. Fig. 15. Saharna Mare. Defensive moat of the Early Hallstatt „citadel”: 1 - south-western sector (Excavation 7/2003); 2 - north-western sector (Excavation 13/2009); 3 - north-eastern sector (Excavation 15/2010). Fig. 16. Saharna Mare. Photos of profiles of the Early Hallstatt “citadel” defensive moat: 1 - north-western sector (Excavation 13/2009); 2 - north-eastern sector (Excavation 15/2010). Fig. 17. Saharna Mare. Early Hallstatt material found in the filling of the defensive moat. Fig. 18. Saharna Mare. Defensive moat of the “adjacent yard”: 1 - south-western sector (Excavation 10/2006); 2 - north-eastern sector (Excavation 10/2006); 3 - northern sector (Excavation 18/2011). Fig. 19. Saharna Mare. Photos of the defensive moat of the “adjacent yard”: 1 - south-western sector (Excavation 10/2006); 2 - north-eastern sector (Excavation 10/2006); 3 - northern sector (Excavation 18/2011). Fig. 20. Saharna Mare. Early Hallstatt pottery from the filling of the “adjacent yard” moat. Fig. 21. Saharna Mare. Construction no. 3: 1 - plan and profile; 2 - remains of the construction (view from the east); 3 - vessel in situ. Fig. 22. Saharna Mare. Pottery from the construction no. 3. Fig. 23. Saharna Mare. 1 - Plan and profile of the pit no. 104; 2 - plan and profile of the pit no. 105; 3 - plans and profiles of the pits no. 106 and no. 107; 4-8 - inventory of the pit no. 104; 9, 10 - inventory of the pit no. 105; 11 - inventory of the pit no. 106; 12-16 - inventory of the pit no. 107. Fig. 24. Saharna Mare. 1 - Plan and profile of the pit no. 108; 2 - plan and profile of the pit no. 109; 3 - plan and profile of the pit no. 110; 4-14 - inventory of the pit no. 108; 15-19 - inventory of the pit no. 109; 20-23 - inventory of the pit no. 110. Fig. 25. Saharna Mare. 1 - Plan and profile of the pit no. 111; 2 - plan and profile of the pit no. 112; 3 - plan and profile of the pit no. 113; 4-13 - inventory of the pit no. 111; 14, 15 - inventory of the pit no. 112; 16-24 - inventory of the pit no. 113. Fig. 26. Saharna Mare. 1 - Plan and profile of the pit no. 114; 2 - plan and profile of the pit no. 115; 3-14 - inventory of the pit no. 114; 15, 16 - inventory of the pit no. 115. Fig. 27. Saharna Mare. 1 - Plan and profile of the pit no. 116; 2 - plan and profile of the pit no. 117; 3 - plan and profile of the pit no. 118; 4 - plan and profile of the pit no. 119; 5 - inventory of the pit no. 116; 6, 7 - inventory of the pit no. 118; 8-23 - inventory of the pit no. 119. Fig. 28. Saharna Mare. 1 - Plan and profile of the pit no. 120; 2 - plan and profile of the pit no. 121; 3 - plan and profile of the pit no. 122; 4-8 - inventory of the pit no. 120; 9-15 - inventory of the pit no. 121; 16 - inventory of the pit no. 122. Fig. 29. Saharna Mare. 1 - Plans and profiles of the pits no. 123, no. 124 and no. 138; 2 - plan and profile of the pit no. 125; 3-10 - inventory of the pit no. 123; 11 - inventory of the pit no. 124; 12-16 - inventory of the pit no. 125. Fig. 30. Saharna Mare. 1 - Plan and profile of the pit no. 126; 2-38 - inventory of the pit no. 126. Fig. 31. Saharna Mare. 1 - Plan and profile of the pit no. 127; 2 - plan and profile of the pit no. 128; 3 - plan and profile of the pit no. 129; 4 - inventory of the pit no. 127; 5 - inventory of the pit no. 128; 6-1 - inventory of the pit no. 129. Fig. 32. Saharna Mare. Pits without inventory, which belong to the Early Hallstatt period. Fig. 33. Saharna Mare. 1 - Plan and profile of the Accumulation no. 1; 1а - plan of the hearth no. 9; 2 - hearth no. 9; 3 - accumulation of stones, human bones, and pottery; 4 - general view of the Accumulation no. 1 and the hearth no. 9. Fig. 34. Saharna Mare. Archaeological findings from the Accumulation no. 1. Fig. 35. Saharna Mare. Fragments of pottery from the Accumulation no. 1. Fig. 36. Saharna Mare. Objects of the Early Hallstatt period (1 - iron; 2-8 - bone; 9-14 - stone; 15-27 - clay). Fig. 37. Saharna Mare. Fragments of bowls from the cultural layer. Fig. 38. Saharna Mare. Fragments of bowls from the cultural layer. Fig. 39. Saharna Mare Fragments of bowls from the cultural layer. Fig. 40. Saharna Mare. Fragments of bowls from the cultural layer. Fig. 41. Saharna Mare. Fragments of goblets from the cultural layer. Fig. 42. Saharna Mare. Fragments of pots from the cultural layer. Fig. 43. Saharna Mare. Fragments of pots from the cultural layer. Fig. 44. Saharna Mare. Fragments of pots from the cultural layer. Fig. 45. Saharna Mare. Fragments of pottery from the cultural layer. Fig. 46. Spreading of the sites in the Saharna region.
Ion Niculiță, Aurel Zanoci, Mihail Băț
Geospatial and archaeological research in the micro-zone of Horodiște-Tipova
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VIII [XXIII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Mihail Băț
Early Iron Age settlement in Ţahnăuţi, Rezina District
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XI [XXVI], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Ion Niculiță, Aurel Zanoci, Mihail Băț, Sergiu Matveev
Archaeological research on the site of Saharna Mare (2009-2012) (II)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VII [XXII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Sergiu Matveev
The beginnings of archaeology in MSSR
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. X [XXV], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Sergiu Matveev
The reflection of the ethno-cultural processes from the 2nd-14th centuries between Prut and Nistru in the soviet ethno-folck studies
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. I [XVI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie Chișinău, 2007
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
