Abstract: In the work on the materials of a cremation burial in bronze situla of the 2nd-1st centuries BC, which was found in Mana village (Orhei district), we have taken for comparative and anthropological analysis remains of calcined bones from the burial in situla from Sipoteni (Călărași district) published in 1950s (fig. 1).

Osteological research of the contents of the bronze vessel from Sipoteni (fig. 2) showed that the remains belonged to a man 20-30 years old. In the burial urn a fragment of a black-burnished vessel, a silver fibula of the Middle La Tene type (fig. 4), an iron ring, and an amorphous iron object were found. The grave goods also contain a bronze situla (fig. 3), identical in shape and size, which was found near the funeral urn. Researches attributed the Sipoteni burial to the 2nd-1st centuries BC, a period of domination of Bastarnae tribes in the central and northern part of the Carpathian-Dniester region. Our own comparative analysis of this type of bronze vessels showed that they are similar with identical containers from the Middle Danube sites, as well as from northern Italy, southern France and Spain, which were used by Celtic tribes as funeral urns.

To the east of the Carpathians identical bronze vessels were found in the village of Mana, at the site of Bădeni (Iași) (fig. 5), and as part of the so-called odd hoards from Bădragii Noi (fig. 7), Vesela Dolina, and Maryevka (fig. 10) (in the region from the Eastern Carpathians to the Dnieper and the Don at least 50 so-called hoards were found), including ones in the bronze vessels, which we have mentioned.

Some researchers' attempts to attribute the situlae from Sipoteni, Bădragii Noi, Vesela Dolina, Maryevka, etc. to the type of Eggers 18-23 or the type of Bargfeld seem to us to fail, because these bronze vessels have slender shape, riveted bronze or iron attaches and the maximum diameter of the vessels is at the height of the fourth part. The East Carpathian situlae are of less slender proportions, and the largest diameter is located at the third part of the height of the vessels. In addition, the East Carpathian vessels have no trace of riveted attaches. They either have a different system of handles attachment (Fig. 9) or have no traces of them.

Morphological features of bronze situlae found to the east of the Carpathians made it possible to attribute vessels without handles and attaches or traces of rivets to a special type - the type of Mana (fig. 8), and bronze containers with mobile iron handles - to the Bădragii Noi variant of the same type (fig. 9).

Most researchers dated the bronze situlae within the 1st century BC. Analysis of the grave goods from the cremation burial complexes identified at Sipoteni and Mana (bronze situlae, silver fibula, weapons of Celtic type, etc.), as well as analysis of objects from odd hoards confirm that they belong to the 1st century BC, likely to the first half of this chronological interval.

List of illustrations:
Fig. 1. Map of the place near Sipoteni where the cremation burial was found. Fig. 2. Sipoteni. Bronze situla - a funeral urn (photo, drawing).
Fig. 3. Sipoteni. Bronze situla - grave goods (photo, drawing).
Fig. 4. Sipoteni. Silver fibula (photo, drawing).
Fig. 5. Bronze situla from Bădeni (Iași) (photo, drawing).
Fig. 6. Bronze situla from Bădragii Noi (Edineț) (photo, drawing).
Fig. 7. Graphic reconstruction of the iron handle of the situla from Bădragii Noi (Edineț).
Fig. 8. Typology of situlae. Type of Mana (1-2 - Sipoteni; 3 - Mana; 4 - Bădeni).
Fig. 9. Typology of situlae. Variant of Bădragii Noi, type of Mana (1 - Bădragii Noi; 2 - Vesela Dolina; 3 - Maryevka). Fig. 10. Map of the spreading of bronze situlae to the east of the Carpathians: 1. Sipoteni (Călărași); 2. Mana (Orhei); 3. Bădeni (Iași); 4. Bădragii Noi (Edineț); 5. Veselaja Dolina (Odesa); 6. Mar'evka (Nikolaev); 7. Brad
(Bacău); 8. Bâtca Doamnei (Neamț); 9. Răcătău (Bacău); 10. Poienești (Vaslui)
Fig. 11. Sipoteni. Remains of burnt human bones. Male 20-30 years old. The degree of fragmentation of the skeleton Fig. 12. A fragment of the frontal bone, the upper edge of the right orbit with traces of iron oxide.
Fig. 13. Fragment of hip bone, close to the sciatic curve.
Fig. 14. Fragment of the parietal bone, closer to the sagittal suture.
Fig. 15. Fragment of the tooth root, perhaps premolar.
Fig. 16. Fragment of the occipital bone.
Fig. 17. A fragment of the temporal bone.
Fig. 18. Fragment of a lumbar vertebra.
Fig. 19. Vertebral arches, fragmented.
Fig. 20. Fragments of epiphyses, some with traces of metal oxides.
Fig. 21. Metatarsal bone I, fragment, distal end.
Fig. 22. Left femur, fragment.
Fig. 23. Phalanxes of fingers in anatomical order.
Fig. 24. Tibia, diaphysis fragment, with longitudinal cracks.
Fig. 25. Femur, diaphysis fragment, with transverse cracks. Visible metal oxides.
Fig. 26. Humerus, diaphysis fragment.
Fig. 27. Radial bone, diaphysis fragment. Fig. 28. Fibula, diaphysis fragment.
Fig. 29. Fragments of the epiphysis and metaphysis of the femur. Transition from carbonization to calcination. Fig. 30. Fragments of deformed diaphyses with traces of metal oxides.
Fig. 31. Radial bone, diaphysis fragment (with traces of possible injury). Fig. 32. Maximum temperature mode in color and patterns of bone damage.