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The present study brings to the foreground of discussions a certain type of artifacts, the importance of which in the process of analyzing archaeological finds is difficult to overestimate, but which, unfortunately, was not used by the researchers to the proper extent. Thus, in the archaeological literature there is no single work on the Iron Age fibulae that were discovered on the present-day territory of the Republic of Moldova. Moreover, even when some specimens were introduced into scientific circulation, their publication was very short, often without a clear and precise presentation of the context, and the images accompanying incomplete texts in most cases are not clear enough for detailed analysis. Based on this situation, we decided to fill this historiographic gap and at the first stage we devoted our research to the iron fibulae of the early La Tène scheme found on the territory of the Republic of Moldova. As a result of the investigation, a lot was allocated, consisting of 12 fibulae, most of which were found on the territory of the Getic hillforts on the right bank of the Dniester. The degree of preservation of the items leaves much to be desired. The number of undamaged fibulae is relatively small, and those preserved fragmentarily create sufficient impediments for the possibilities of classification. Despite these circumstances, a catalogue of early La Tène scheme fibulae was developed, on the basis of which the main analogies were identified both in the neighboring areas (Romania and Ukraine), and in the Central Europe. We suggested to trace the chronological landmarks for the existing analogies, as well as to evaluate the chronological framework of the presented artifacts. At the same time, we set out to follow the ways and means by which these fibulae reached the Prut-Dniester area and, where possible, to highlight probable phenomena and processes that were behind the respective distribution of this type of artifacts.

In 2006, a collection of ceramic objects from the archeological excavations of the Getae fortress of Butuceni, which had been carried out by G. Smirnov in 1947-1949, was transferred to the National Museum of History of Moldova. In the museum, the collection was processed, and the vessels, which were amenable to reconstruction, were restored by specialists of the institution. Thus, 18 hand-shaped and three wheel-made vessels are currently available for research, as well as nine stamps of Greek amphorae. In this article, in the form of a catalog, the restored vessels and amphora stamps are described. The introduction into the scientific circulation of the vessels discovered in Butuceni in 1947-1949 will replenish the rich archaeological finds from this site, already known after the excavations of 1983-2000, as well as in recent years.

As a result of archaeological investigations carried out in June 2015 near the village of Mana, there were found three fortified settlements: Mana III, Mana IV, and Mana V. The hill fort of Mana III, an area of about 0,18 ha, is located on the promontory at a distance of 1 km south of the village. From the east and west sides the fort was protected by steep slopes of the promontory, and from the north and south sides – by “ramparts” and ditches. On the surface of the settlement there were found fragments of the Thraco-Getic hand-made pottery and fragments of Greek amphorae, due to which the settlement can be attributed to the Thraco-Getic period. Also, at the site there was investigated a cremation burial typical for the Poieneşti-Lukashevka culture.

For the time interval between the second half of the 12th century BC and early 8th century BC, in the space between Tisa and Dniester Rivers have been discovered about 140 fortifications. Most of them (121) are concentrated in the cultural area of Gáva-Holihrady culture and the rest, a smaller number, are known in cultures: Vârtop, Chişinău-Corlăteni, Babadag, Cozia-Saharna and Insula Banului. Regardless of cultural belonging, early Hallstatt fortifications have a number of common features: the location in strategic places, the presence of artificial defensive elements (“wallum”, ditch, etc.), the adaptation to the specific land defense system on which they are located, etc. Along with defensive constructions, the entrance method to the sites represent an important element of every fortification. The ways of access had to be easy for the residents and difficult for the enemy. Of all the defensive elements that were endowed, the gate remains the most vulnerable part. Hence the resulting increased attention paid to the access system in all times, including during the Hallstatt.

From the right bank of the Dniester, north of the village of Ţipova (Rezina District) begins a deep gorge with steep slopes. Near the village of Horodişte the gorge divides, forming a network of canyons which, in turn, outline a series of headlands. As a result of study of orthophotoplans and archaeological reconnaissance in the micro-zone there was discovered an "agglomeration" of sites, consisting of six fortifications (Horodişte „La Cot", Horodişte „La Şanţ", Horodişte II, Buciuşca II, Buciuşca III, Ţipova III ) and two unfortified settlements. In order to investigate the defense system and to determine the period of its functioning at Horodişte „La Cot" and Horodişte „La Şanţ" an archeological research was carried out. As a result, it was found that these fortified settlements were surrounded by "walls" consisting of two wooden facings with a filling of earth and stone. The archaeological materials recovered from the filling of the "walls" indicate that the fortification of Horodişte „La Şanţ" functioned during the early Hallstatt (Cozia-Saharna culture), and one of Horodişte „La Cot" - in the 4th - 3rd centuries BC. Based on the compact arrangement of fortifications and unfortified settlements in the micro-zone of Horodişte-Tipova, it can be assumed the existence of some formation in this space, the "administrative center" of which was the fortress of Horodişte "La Cot". The period of its existence is still not clear. But if we take into account that most of the fortified and unfortified settlements in the Middle Dniester region functioned since the early Iron Age, it can be assumed that the community of the Horodişte-Tipova area settled down here around that time. However, it reaches its peak of development in the 4th - 3rd centuries BC, as well as neighboring communities around Saharna.

This article presents information on the findings relating to the Thraco-Getian period, which have been identified as a result of archaeological excavations in 2009-2012 on the site of Saharna Mare. In examining orthophotomaps and the results and geomagnetic prospecting there was discovered a new defensive line traced over 650 m to the north, east and south sides of the cape. Its ends are connected to the "wall" on the west side, thus forming an integral defensive system surrounding the fortress on all sides and having an area of approximately 6 hectares. This recently discovered defensive line represents a "rampart" barely visible on the current surface of the soil, having at the base a width of 3 m and a height of about 0.3-0.4 m. Toward the east this "rampart" meanders, forming eight bastions grouped in four on the northern and southern flanks. As a result of archaeological investigation it was found that the identified "rampart" is the remains of a defensive wall built of two rows of wooden poles dug vertically into the mainland. The space between rows was filled with stones and earth, thus forming a fortification of about 1.1-1.6 m width. In the settlement there were also examined two above-ground structures, 36 household pits and fairly rich and varied inventory attributable to the 8th/7th - 3rd centuries BC. Judging by its strategic location, powerful defensive structures, and by the findings found in the area of the site, it can be assumed that the fortified settlement of Saharna Mare was an important economic, political, administrative and military center of the Middle Dniester region.