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.
Legislative basis of secondary education in the Russian Empire in the modern era
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. V [XX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
In this article, based on the analysis of written documents and monographs, we will discuss the legislative foundation of secondary education in the Russian Empire.
In order to navigate in the diversity of laws we will try to make a conditional difference in the periods of legislation in the sphere of education. First of all we will analyze the situation in the education domain in the 17th century. The first attempts to organize a unified school system throughout the country were made just at that time, but the first state school system was established only in the 19th century due to the reforms of 1802-1803. The establishment of the Ministry of Public Education, Preliminary Regulations concerning public education, and University Regulations led to the fact that in November of 1804 the “Regulations of Educational Institutions Subordinate to Universities” were established. Under the new law, education is divided into the following types: university, gymnasium, county, and parochial. All these educational institutions were closely linked.
In 1820-1830s the state promoted the principle of social condition in education. In 1828 new regulations of education were established, under which the types of schools remained the same, but the connection between a gymnasium and a county school was broken. The new regulations provided that every type of school should be destined for a particular social category.
The 1860-1870s occupy a special place in the history of Russian Empire. The reforms of Alexander II led to the adoption of more liberal laws in this field. In 1863 the university regulations were changed, followed by the establishment of secondary schools regulations in 1864. The regulations of 1864 provided that anyone who wanted to learn, regardless of social status and religion, could enroll in gymnasiums and pro-gymnasiums. After the reform of 1864 there were three types of secondary education in Russia. There was introduced a new type of school with an incomplete education, pro-gymnasium, with a four-year period of schooling. The same year the Regulations of Elementary Public Schools were established, under which the institutions of Zemstvo, local urban administrative authorities, public organizations, and individuals received the right to open such schools.
A new stage in the development of secondary education began at the time when count D. A. Tolstoy was the Minister of Public Education. In 1871-1872 the new Minister, an adherent of classical education, has introduced compulsory study of classical languages in all secondary schools. Non-classical lyceums were abolished, and instead there were created non-classical secondary schools, whose graduates could not continue their studies at universities, but only in technical institutions of higher education. These laws have reduced the role of non-classical schools, though the country needed professionals in the field of natural sciences.
Despite all the advances in the field of education during the 19th century, the level of primary, secondary, and higher education in Russia was still much lower than in European countries.
Tatiana Chicaroș
The role of Bessarabian private schools in the educational system of the Russian Empire in the second half of the 19th - early 20th century
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VI [XXI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Tatiana Chicaroș
School of exact science activity in Chișinău in period of 1873-1918
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IV [XIX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Tatiana Chicaroș
Development of secondary education in Bessarabia in 1833-1871
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VIII [XXIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Tatiana Chicaroș
Some considerations on the evolution of secular and religious education in Bessarabia in the 19th century - beginning of the 20th century
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. III [XVIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Tatiana Chicaroș
From the history of a private school for girls in Bălți
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VII [XXII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
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
