#Exhibit of the Month

The 21 beads form part of a bronze hoard found in 2019 within a forested area close to the town of Nisporeni. Alongside the beads, the hoard included numerous bronze ornaments (2 Röschitz-Sanislău-type fibulae, 7 necklaces, 12 rings, 22 tubes, 23 bracelets, and approximately 80 appliqués), one coral bead and a pendant made from a wild animal's tooth. At present, the amber beads are preserved in the collections of the Muzeul Național de Istorie a Moldovei, while the remainder of the hoard is in the possession of a private collector.
The hoard was discovered accidentally in a pit about 50 cm deep. The objects in this hoard are of Western origin, with known parallels in archaeological complexes from Poland, Hungary, Serbia, and Slovakia, and, to a lesser extent, in Romania. The presence of this bronze hoard on the territory of the Republic of Moldova illustrates the cultural dynamics of the region during the Early Iron Age and a fundamental shift in the vector of cultural influences from east to west.

The amber bead strand comprises 16 whole beads and five fragmentary ones. They have an elongated biconical shape and vary in size. The beads are brown-reddish in color; their lengths range from 1.1 to 3.1 cm, widths from 0.6 to 1.4 cm, thicknesses from 0.6 to 1.1 cm, and the perforation diameter ranges between 0.2 and 0.3 cm.
Amber beads appear in several bronze hoards dated to the Late Bronze Age in the eastern half of Slovakia and in Transdanubian Hungary. Parallels are also known from the Cioclovina Cave in Romania. With the onset of the Iron Age, amber items disappear from the Carpathian Basin for approximately 300 years, reappearing alongside the arrival of Scythian elements.
The bronze hoard discovered at Nisporeni is dated to the HaA2-HaB1-2 interval (1050/1000 - 800/750 B.C.).

Virtual Tour

Exhibitions

“30 years of diplomatic relations between Germany and Moldova”

July 21 - August 21, 2022

The diplomatic relations between Germany and Moldova began 30 years ago with the signing of the protocol about the inception of the diplomatic relations on 30 April 1992. This was followed by the opening of the German Embassy in Chisinau on 31 October 1992 and of the Moldovan Embassy in Germany on 28 March 1995.

The exhibition, devoted to this cause, shows the development of the German-Moldovan relations and highlights important steps and key areas of the cooperation.

Germany supports Moldova's European path sharing the same values, its its long-term development and its stabilization in the face of multiple crises. Moldova considers Germany as one of the closest partners within the European Union. The cooperation in the areas of culture, development cooperation and economy are very much appreciated.

The cultural exchange and transfer are as wide and varied as the cultural areas included in this exchange. It comprises among others the promotion of German language, academic and scientific exchange as well as the organization and support of numerous cultural projects and events.

The bilateral development cooperation that started in 1993 is particularly close and focused on sustainable economic and social development and good governance. Over 1 billion euros have been committed by various partners in this period.

In the sphere of economy Germany is one of the most important foreign trade partners of the Republic Moldova and accounts for a great deal of imports and exports. Numerous direct investments of German companies contribute to the promotion of the Moldovan economy and the creation of jobs.

The political cooperation and exchange between both countries is also very close. Heads of states and governments from the Republic of Moldova came regularly for political visits to Germany. In 2012 Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel visited Chisinau and delivered a speech in parliament, a rare honor. The visit of the Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier in 2014 paved the way for the so-called Berlin-Process two years later, that led to the improvement of living conditions of people on both banks of the Dniester. In 2021 both Presidents, Ms. Maia Sandu and Frank-Walter Steinmeier, took turns in paying each other state visits.

Find out more about this and other aspects of German-Moldovan relations over the years in this exhibition!

The exhibition 30 years of diplomatic relations between Germany and Moldova can be seen in the MNIM ground floor hall (31 August 1989 street, nr. 121 A) between July 21 and August 21, 2022.