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.
Ekaterinovka – single-layer settlement of the Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov culture
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IX [XXIV], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică Chișinău, 2015
Abstract
In 1978, on a single-layer settlement of the Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov culture near the village of Ecaterinovca (Cimișlia District) rescue excavations were carried out. On an area of a bout 1,800 sq. m. there were identified three ground pillar structures, one of which served as a dwelling while the other two were of household destination, a dugout without heating facilities, two storage pits with burnt walls, garbage pits, many pits of poles, as well as a remote wattle-and-daub frame oven. In one of the storage pits there were found five whole vessels: three large seed vessels with the remnants of charred millet, a massive wide-necked red-figure amphora with fluted body and helmet bottom, and a narrow-necked gray-clay single-handed jug. The range of fine and cooking ware is common for sites of this culture. Fragments of rough and smooth gray wheel-made pottery prevail; there are fragments of amphorae made of red clay and light-colored clay. The percentage of hand-modeled ceramics is negligible. There were found individual objects made of clay, iron, stone, bone, glass, and bronze. Based on the dating of the widenecked amphora and a bronze fibula the Ecaterinovca settlement dates back to the 4th century.
List of illustrations: Fig. 1. Location of the Ecaterinovca settlement on the topographic map (1) and the map of the Republic of Moldova (2). Fig. 2. Ecaterinovca. Plan of the bottom part of the excavation III. Fig. 3. Ecaterinovca. Excavation III. Plans and sections of structures: 1 - pit 1A, 2 - pit 2A, 3 - oven 1. Fig. 4. Ecaterinovca. Plan of the bottom part of the excavation IV. Fig. 5. Ecaterinovca. Individual founds: 1-4 - of glass and glass paste; 6, 8, 11 - of iron; 7 - of bronze; 9, 12, 13, 15 - of clay; 14, 16 - of stone. Fig. 6. Ecaterinovca. Excavation IV. Plans and sections of structures: 1 - pit 1A, 2 - dugout 1. Fig. 7. Ecaterinovca. Pottery: 1-3 - from the filling of the pit 1A, excavation IV; 4 - from the filling of the pit 1A, excavation III. Fig. 8. Ecaterinovca. Pottery from the filling of the pit 1A, excavation IV.
Иван Власенко
Early medieval bone handles of knives with annular notches as one of the possible signs of ethnic attribution of the Tivertsi
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XIII [XXVIII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Иван Власенко
The results of archaeological exploration in central and northern regions of the Republic of Moldova
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VI [XXI], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Иван Власенко
Defensive system of citadel Mereșeuca-Cetățuie
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IV [XIX], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Иван Власенко
Hallstatt cultural-chronological horizons of multilevel settlement Ivancea II
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. I [XVI], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică Chișinău, 2007
Иван Власенко
Late residential compounds of the early medieval settlement Rudi
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. II [XVII], 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.