#Exhibit of the Month

The bronze hoard was discovered on the territory of Mîndrești village, Telenești district, in 1968. It was identified accidentally by a group of students from the village school, and the materials later came to the attention of specialists at the Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences. According to documentary records, the hoard was composed of ten pieces: four socketed axes (celts), a dagger fragment, a sword fragment, a sickle, a winged axe, an adze-axe, and a chain consisting of four links.
Currently, of the mentioned assemblage, six objects are preserved in the collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova: two socketed axes (celts), the winged axe, the adze-axe, the dagger fragment, and the chain made of four links.- Socketed axe (celt) with one loop. Dimensions: Length - 10.2 cm; Weight - 186 g.
- Socketed axe (celt) with one frontal loop. Dimensions: Length - 8.4 cm; Width: 33-46 mm; Weight - 124 g.
- Winged axe. Dimensions: Length - 14.0 cm; Width - 2.5-3.4 cm; Weight - 285 g.
- Adze-axe. Dimensions: Length - 14.8 cm; Width - 2.3-5.0 cm; Weight - 286 g.
- Dagger fragment. Dimensions: Length - 16.5 cm; Blade length - 9.8 cm; Blade width - 2.8 cm; Weight - 81 g.
- Chain formed of four links. Dimensions: Length - 17.1 cm; Link diameter - 3.8; Weight - 32 g.The bronze hoard of Mîndrești is important due to the association of objects that find analogies in the regional repertoire with pieces that show clear analogies in Central Europe and the Carpathian Basin. The assemblage reflects a zone of contact and interaction where metallic forms of different origins and traditions circulated and were integrated into the repertoire of local communities.
Chronologically, the bronze hoard of Mîndrești is attributed to the Early Hallstatt period - HaA1, being dated to 1200-1100 BC.

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Archaeological research at the Mazarache church from Chisinau

July – October, 2010

During July – October, 2010 the archaeological expedition of the National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova carried out investigations near the Mazarache Church from Chisinau and in the cemetery adjacent to the site. In about 40 investigated graves together with other material able to shed light on the time periods when the cemetery was used (pottery, buttons, earrings, rings, etc.) there were found many coins attributed to the medieval and pre-modern times. At the same time, there were discovered a defensive ditch of the Early Iron Age, a cellar of the 17th – 18th centuries, and remnants of an aqueduct of the 19th century.

Being founded, apparently, in 1742, the Mazarache Church from Chisinau which is dedicated to the Intercession of the Virgin is considered to be the oldest church in the city and is built in the Moldavian style.

It should be mentioned that the archaeological investigations by the Mazarache Church have confirmed the information from written sources on the location of Chisinau (the Gospodar’s charter of July 17, 1436, which refers to Chesenaul of Acbas, and one of 1466 about the settlement of Chisinau near the Albisoara Fountain), and local tradition about the place of the old heart of the town that had been located in the immediate vicinity of the promontory, on which, perhaps, the oldest local church was built.

#Exhibit of the Month

The Bronze Hoard of Mîndrești

Archaeological research at the Mazarache church from Chisinau

July – October, 2010

#Exhibit of the Month