Buckles (paftale) are an almost indispensable element of traditional women's dress in the Southeastern European area, particularly in the Balkans, and have been in use over a long period, from the 14th to the 20th century. The word pafta is of Turkic origin-possibly entering the language via Iranian influence-derived from the Persian word bafta, meaning "woven," which evolved in Turkish to signify "plate." Today, the term is used in nearly identical forms in Romanian (pafta), Bulgarian (пафта), Serbian (пафте), and some Aromanian dialects (pafta), designating functional and ornamental clothing accessories used to fasten belts, girdles, or sashes, crafted from various materials and decorated using different techniques. The three buckles decorated in the polychrome enamel technique, preserved in the collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova, belong to the South-Danubian tradition and are dated to the late 19th - early 20th century.
Each buckle consists of two identical trapezoidal parts, their surfaces divided into three roughly equal registers, adorned with stylized vegetal motifs forming a metal lattice into which enamel is poured. The two parts extend into sharp angles at the ends, forming a triangle with the edge of the last decorative register, similarly ornamented. The enamel used to fill the floral motifs is black, turquoise, white, orange, green, yellow, and burgundy. The entire decorative field is framed by a beaded border.
On the reverse, both components retain a copper band riveted along the edge, used to fasten the ends of the belt. The fastening system, made by interlocking the hinges of the two parts and secured with a movable pin attached by a chain to a clasp fixed on one of the buckle pieces, is concealed by a rectangular plate (riveted with three pins to the body of the piece), with narrow edges ending in sharp angles, decorated in the same style and technique. Additionally, it features three circular settings with notched edges bent inward to hold centrally placed red and green glass paste. These settings are framed by a radiant, notched band.
The symbolism of the color palette encodes meanings and symbols, chosen for their believed magical powers. Red has always represented love, affection, and protection against curses and the evil eye; white symbolizes purity and spiritual and physical cleanliness; blue is symbolically associated with infinity, morning, new beginnings, and transformation; green represents destiny, hope, prosperity, balance, and rebirth, being linked to nature's revival each spring and to life itself.
The Giurgiulești earthen fortress. Preliminary research results
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. II [XVII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
The Giurgiulești earthen fortress is situated on the left bank of the Prut river, on a high cape, at a distance of approximately 1500 meters from where the river flows into the Danube and defends the shallow river known as “Vadul Boului”. Several opposite hypotheses have been advanced regarding provenance and dating of the fortress.
In connection with the building of a section of the railroad Cahul-Giurgiulești in 2007, along the route and on the cape “Cetatea” very limited rescue excavations were carried out. Thus, a ditch and burnt remains of a wooden palisade have been discovered as the result of excavations. “Mushatin type” ceramic vessels were found at the bottom of the ditch, researched and dated second half of 15th - beginning of 16th centuries.
Inside the earthen fortress a half-earth type construction (12×12 m) had been revealed and partially researched. The pottery allowed to date the construction to 18th – beginning of 19th centuries.
It is proposed that the earth fortress near Giurgiulești was constructed in view of the deterioration of the political and military situation in the Lower Danube in the middle 80s of the 15th century.
Apparently, it was erected before the Ottoman forces conquered the Moldavian fortresses Chilia and Cetatea Albă in 1484 or right after their loss in order to fortify the southern boundaries of Moldova along the Lower Troian mound. According to the Moldavian chronicle, several earthen and stone fortresses such as Birlad, Tintiul, Cetatea Nouă, and Palanca on the Dniester river had been constructed, restored and fortified because of the Turkish invasion. Among them could be constructed the earthen fortress on the Prut river researched by us which subsisted for a very short time.
In the end of 18th – beginning of 19th centuries during Russo-Turkish wars, food and household warehouses were constructed inside the deserted fortress, afterwards revealed by the archaeologists.
Ion Tentiuc, Valeriu Bubulici
Early medieval hoard of forging and jewelry tools found at Voloave, Soroca District
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XIV [XXIX], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică, Chişinău, 2020
Ion Tentiuc, Valeriu Bubulici
An incineration burial in metal urn (2nd-3rd c. AD) discovered at Iagorlîc, Dubăsari
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XII [XXVII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Ion Tentiuc
Aspects of funeral rite and ritual in the Prut-Dniester region in the early Middle Ages (The Molești-Ialoveni necropolis)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. I [XVI], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică Chișinău, 2007
Ion Tentiuc
About horse rider pendants from the early Medieval period in the Prut-Dniester area
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IV [XIX], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Ion Tentiuc
Sergiu Matveev, Procesele etno-culturale din spațiul carpato-nistrean în secolele II-XIV. Istoriografia sovietică. Chișinău: Pontos, 2009, 230 p. text + 5 tabele
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IV [XIX], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Buckles (paftale) are an almost indispensable element of traditional women's dress in the Southeastern European area, particularly in the Balkans, and have been in use over a long period, from the 14th to the 20th century....
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
