The bronze hoard was discovered on the territory of Mîndrești village, Telenești district, in 1968. It was identified accidentally by a group of students from the village school, and the materials later came to the attention of specialists at the Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences. According to documentary records, the hoard was composed of ten pieces: four socketed axes (celts), a dagger fragment, a sword fragment, a sickle, a winged axe, an adze-axe, and a chain consisting of four links. Currently, of the mentioned assemblage, six objects are preserved in the collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova: two socketed axes (celts), the winged axe, the adze-axe, the dagger fragment, and the chain made of four links.- Socketed axe (celt) with one loop. Dimensions: Length - 10.2 cm; Weight - 186 g. - Socketed axe (celt) with one frontal loop. Dimensions: Length - 8.4 cm; Width: 33-46 mm; Weight - 124 g. - Winged axe. Dimensions: Length - 14.0 cm; Width - 2.5-3.4 cm; Weight - 285 g. - Adze-axe. Dimensions: Length - 14.8 cm; Width - 2.3-5.0 cm; Weight - 286 g. - Dagger fragment. Dimensions: Length - 16.5 cm; Blade length - 9.8 cm; Blade width - 2.8 cm; Weight - 81 g. - Chain formed of four links. Dimensions: Length - 17.1 cm; Link diameter - 3.8; Weight - 32 g.The bronze hoard of Mîndrești is important due to the association of objects that find analogies in the regional repertoire with pieces that show clear analogies in Central Europe and the Carpathian Basin. The assemblage reflects a zone of contact and interaction where metallic forms of different origins and traditions circulated and were integrated into the repertoire of local communities. Chronologically, the bronze hoard of Mîndrești is attributed to the Early Hallstatt period - HaA1, being dated to 1200-1100 BC.
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VI [XXI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
The article uses a rather large number of sources concerning Armenian resettlement center in Kiliya (Danube Delta, in the Bessarabian historic district of Budjak). Most of them are presented by Armenian epitaphs, in total twelve ones, dated to 1646-1765 years. Twelve tombstones, carrying them, were located inside the church of St. Nicholas in Kiliya and possibly in its environment as well. Five of them, together with epitaphs are preserved to our times: three in the church garden and two in the Kiliya museum. Three of these five tombstones were discovered recently, and their epitaphs are new-found sources. Two others had been published earlier. The remaining seven tombstones and there epitaphs are known only from various publications.
The analysis of these twelve epitaphs reveals that the persons, mentioned in them, in their vast majority were the representatives of the second or third generation of the Armenians, who migrated here from various places of His- torical Armenia, and even, perhaps, from Persia in the early decades of the XVII century. So they had no relation to the old Armenian inhabitants of Kiliya, settled here earlier – in the course of the XI-XV centuries. The sources come to prove that the last ones had a church of St. Virgin (now the location is unknown), which existed up to the very beginning of the XIX century.
So we have to admit that the newly arrived Armenians made burials in the church of St. Nicholas and round it right after its construction in 1648 by the Moldavian ruler Vasile Lupu and, presumably, until their leaving for Grigoriopol in 1792. The epitaph dated 1646 suggests a burial made even during the construction of the church. The said indicates a direct relation of the last to the newly arrived Armenians and finds confirmation in N. Kleeman’s information (the 60-s of the XVIII century) that the Armenians had two churches in Kiliya.
List of illustrations: Table 1. Previously published Armenian inscriptions, relating to Кiliya. Table 2. Armenian epitaphs of the preserved tombstones. Photo 1. Marble tombstone with the inscription, dated to 1749. Was found in the churchyard of St. Nicholas on the north side. Photo 2. Marble tombstone with the epitaph in three verses. Historical museum of Kiliya district. Photo 3. The third verse, carved on the butt end of the plate. Photo 4. Marble gravestone with an epitaph in four verses. Carved decoration of the horizontal surface. Historical museum of Kiliya district. Photo 5. Marble tombstone with the inscription in four verses. Historical museum of Kiliya district. Photo 6. Marble tombstone with the epitaph, dated to 1755. Located east of the church of St. Nicholas, in the garden. Photo 7. Tombstone with the inscription, dated to 1653. Located east of the church of St. Nicholas, in the garden. Photo 8. Marble tombstones in the environment of the church of St. Nicholas, used as doorstep stones.
The bronze hoard was discovered on the territory of Mîndrești village, Telenești district, in 1968. It was identified accidentally by a group of students from the village school, and the materials later came to the attention of specialists at the Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences...
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
