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.
Abstract: The article "On museumification of the historical site Camp of Swedish King Charles XII at Varnița" considers the problem of residence of the Swedish King Charles XII in Moldova, on the right bank of the Dniester, in Bender and Varnița, as well as the need for research and lighting this common segment of Moldavian, Turkish, and Swedish history through the museumification of the historical site. Particular attention is paid to the plans of arrangement of the Swedish king's camps at Bender and Varnița drawn up during the 19th century, especially to the plan created in 1840 by Bogdan Eitner, which now is stored in the collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova (Chișinău). In considering the issue a new approach was used, which is particularly reflected in the emphasizing of the role of certain figures and institutions in preserving the memory of the Swedish King Charles XII in the period of time between the two wars. There are also original the prospects concerning the educational role that could carry the museumification of the historical site. E. Ploșnița believes that protection of the historical site through its museumification will offer a retrospective of history, thus stimulating memory that contributes to individual cultural identity. The author hopes that Sweden and the Republic of Moldova, the local community and the authorities will be able to use the common history segment associated with the name of the Swedish king Charles XII. In recent years employees of the National Museum of History of Moldova put forward a lot of ideas and proposals for the rehabilitation of the historical site Camp of Swedish King Charles XII at Varnița. Thus, in 2007-2008 A. Cornețchi drafted the project Historical Heritage, which included the involvement of experts from the Republic of Moldova, Sweden and Romania in the restoration of the Varnița site. For some reasons the project was not implemented. At the end of 2015, in the framework of the European CHOICE program (Cultural Heritage Opportunity For Improving Civic Engagement), Doctor in history Elena Ploșnița on behalf of the public association of Varnița developed and presented the project "Historical site Camp of Swedish King Charles XII at Varnița - development and promotion". This project aims to achieve several important goals: - Scientific and public development of the historical site and its introduction into the cultural and tourist use; - Conservation and museumification of the historical site, including the restoration of the monument to the King of Sweden; - An innovative interpretation of the cultural heritage of the historical site; - Mobilization of the local community in the protection of cultural heritage and strengthening the role of local public organizations in the process. The project received a grant and will be implemented in the period from April 2016 to April 2017.
List of illustrations: Fig. 1. Plan of the camp of the Swedish King Charles XII at Varnița drawn up by B. Eitner, 1840. Fig. 2. Monument to the Swedish king Charles XII at Varnița, 1932. Fig. 3. Monument to the Swedish king Charles XII at Varnița, 2015. Fig. 4. Archaeological research at Varnița, on the site of the camp of the Swedish King Charles XII, 1993. Fig. 5. Ceramic vessel discovered during archaeological excavations at Varnița in 1993.
Elena Ploșnița
Some facts regarding memorial valorification of family house Lazo from Piatra, Orhei
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IV [XIX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Elena Ploșnița
Some considerations regarding the designing of a permanent exposition of the history museum
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. II [XVII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Elena Ploșnița
Entrance ticket and museum marketing
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IX [XXIV], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie Chișinău, 2015
Elena Ploșnița
The Country House of the Lazo Family at Piatra. Guidelines for the museumification
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XI [XXVI], 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
