ÎNCEPUTURILE ARHEOLOGIEI ÎN RSSM

Abstract

For several decades after the Second World War the problem of the history of archaeological research is constantly present in the special studies. However, a comprehensive analysis of the history of archeology in the Prut-Dniester space for a long time was not performed. The first work devoted to studies of ancient history and archeology in the period between 1715 and 1945 was carried out by N. Chetraru. The light on the events that took place in the MSSR after the Second World War is shed due to the documents stored in the archives of the Republic of Moldova. In this paper there are presented two important documents: the first one regarding the reforming of the Moldavian Institute of History, Economics, Language and Literature with the creation of a sub-department for History and Archaeology, dated December, 17 1945; the second one is the decision of the Council of People’s Commissars of the Moldavian SSR from December 21, 1945 “On preparation for archaeological research on the territory of the Moldavian SSR in 1946”. According to the latter document, for 1946 the holding of two archaeological investigations along the course of the Middle Dniester and the exploration of seven archaeological sites were planned. Towards this, a well developed budget was proposed, providing tools, instruments and supplies, as well as the creation of a photographic cabinet and its supplying with all the necessary equipment. In the first stage experts from scientific centers of the USSR had to be invited, and then the Institute should prepare local professionals. Several reports from the archive of the National Museum of History of Moldova on the excavations carried out in 1946 bring more detail on the implementation of the decisions of the December 1945. Archaeological research in 1946 began only on June 30 instead of the planned May 1. Of the nine planned works (2 archaeological reconnaissance and excavations at 7 archaeological sites), two archaeological reconnaissance were produced on a modified route and only one tumulus was investigated instead of three as planned. However, the same year several unplanned investigations were carried out. In 1946 field investigations were conducted by experts from the Institute of Archaeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, and only since 1947 archaeological excavations