The ceramic vessel set was discovered accidentally in October 2025 in the southwestern part of the village of Bălceana, Hâncești District, approximately 1.2 km from the Lăpușnița River. The archaeological materials were recovered by the National Archaeological Agency.
The ceramic assemblage consists of a large storage vessel (pithos) with a capacity of 20 litres (h = 39.2 cm; d = 35.0 cm), decorated with a raised band below the rim; a medium-sized bowl with a capacity of 2.5 litres (h = 16.9 cm; d = 23.2 cm); a medium-sized jug with a capacity of 0.6 litres (h = 12.0 cm; d = 13.4 cm); and the base of a jar-shaped vessel.
The coarse handmade pottery was produced using the coil-building technique, by stacking and shaping coils of clay prepared from a paste tempered with crushed fired clay (grog) and sand. The vessel surfaces are uneven and covered with a yellowish-red slip featuring black patches, while the core of the vessel walls is black in colour.
The three vessels preserved intact display well-defined biconical shapes, with their maximum diameter at the middle of the body and straight or slightly oblique rims with rounded edges. Pottery of this type is characteristic of the Early Medieval cultural area of the northern and northwestern Black Sea region, dating from the 5th to the 7th centuries. East of the Dniester River, on the territory of present-day Ukraine, analogous pottery is found in Penkovka-type settlements, while in the Carpathian-Dniester region it is characteristic of settlements belonging to the Costișa-Botoșana-Hansca cultural group.
Within the Prut-Dniester region, coarse biconical pottery is generally represented by fragments and only relatively rarely by complete vessels, such as those discovered at Hansca, Dănceni, Recea, Seliște, Păhărniceni, and other sites. This type of pottery constituted an indispensable component of the local material culture during the 5th-7th centuries. In this context, the discovery at Bălceana of an almost intact set of coarse biconical vessels represents a relatively rare find of considerable scientific importance.
According to certain hypotheses, the tradition of coarse biconical pottery dating to the 5th-7th centuries originated in the North Pontic region. At the same time, it cannot be ruled out that these biconical ceramic vessels were the result of contemporary ethnocultural interactions, developing simultaneously across the vast territory extending from the Carpathian Mountains to the Dnieper River and the Seversky Donets.
Orhei district Peștera hermitage and Peștera estate. From the first mentions to the 19th century
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. II [XVII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
The article, on the basis of examination of published and unknown documents show some pages regarding the history of Peștera (Brănești) estate and of the localities on their territory - Peștera (vechiul Orhei) and Peștera (Movilău/Brănești). Also, here is exposing new information regarding the history of the Pestera hermitage and the transformation of his cave Nativity of Our Lady church in the parish church of the Butuceni’s community. List of illustrations:
Fig. 1. 1 - Peștera estate („where Vechiul Orhei was”) in 16th century (designed by S. Ciocanu); 2 - Peștera estate („where Vechiul Orhei was”) in 17th-18th centuries (designed by S. Ciocanu). Fig. 2. Golia’s monastery Trebujeni estate. Fragment of the 1886 year project. Fig. 3. Pestera town seal (apud S. Tabac). Fig. 4. Pestera hermitage seal (apud S. Ciocanu). Fig. 5. Nativity of Our Lady cave church from Butuceni. Project (1887) (by I. Mihalevici). Fig. 6. Nativity of Our Lady cave church from Butuceni: 1 - Project (2001) (by T. Bobrovski, B. Riduș); 2 - Picture (by S. Ciocanu). Fig. 7. Refuge rooms from Butuceni’s crag. Projects (2001) (by T. Bobrovski, B. Riduș). Fig. 8. 1 - Bosie monastery. St. Nicolae cave church portal (1665) (by S. Ciocanu); 2 - Butuceni. Nativity of Our Lady cave church portal (1821) (by Gh. Postică). Fig. 9. Nativity of Our Lady cave church from Butuceni. Bell tower (1822) (picture from the beginning of the 2oth century).
Sergius Ciocanu
Orhei district Mașcăuți hermitage („al lui Albu pârcălab”) and Mașcăuți estate
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. V [XX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Sergius Ciocanu
Monasteries Vișnevăț and Căpriana – two different ecclesial establishments. „Poiana” and „prisaca”
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. I [XVI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie Chișinău, 2007
Sergius Ciocanu
Buildings of the Capriana monastery in the first two decades of the 19th century
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. X [XXV], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Sergius Ciocanu
Orhei district Trebujeni hermitage („al lui Bosie pârcălab”) and Trebujeni/Butuceni estate
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. III [XVIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Sergius Ciocanu
New information on the construction of the Ascension Church in Chişinău and on its precursor – the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XII [XXVII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
The ceramic vessel set was discovered accidentally in October 2025 in the southwestern part of the village of Bălceana, Hâncești District, approximately 1.2 km from the Lăpușnița River. The archaeological materials were recovered by the National Archaeological Agency...
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.