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The Late Bronze Age crisis is one of the most significant events in human history an had occurred in about 1200 BCE. The aridization was one the reasons of a decline of agriculture, migrant expansion and the transition to nomadic style of life. In Eastern Mediterranean the collapse of the advanced civilizations such as the Mycenaean, Hittite, Canaanite, Akkadian occurred in this time. The reconstruction of cultural-historical processes at the turn of the Bronze-Early Iron Ages and environment during this “critical” period of 13th–9th centuries BCE in the Northern Black Sea region is important for understanding this event. Interdisciplinary investigations of the paleoclimatic reconstructions and the cultural traditions have been carried out at the key archaeological sites located in the North-Western Pontic region (Saharna Mică, Saharna Mare, Glinjeni II-La Șanț, Dikiy Sad sites and Cazaclia necropolis). For reconstruction of paleoclimatic conditions and anthropogenic activity, the methods of geochemical indication of paleoclimatic conditions and radiocarbon dating were applied. The climatic changes in the Dniester basin towards aridization around 11th–9th century’s calBC were a crisis of the Belozerkа culture in the Pontic steppe and the trigger for the spreading of the Cozia-Saharna cultural communities into the forest-steppe zone and the formation of fortified settlements the Saharna Miča, the Saharna Mare and the Glinjeni II-La Șanț.

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.

Thanks to a project funded by the Volkswagen Foundation, interdisciplinary research of pottery from several Early Iron Age sites in the Northern Black Sea region, including the Middle Dniester region, was carried out. Among these sites, due to the number of samples and the variety of forms of the vessels subject to analysis, the settlement of Saharna Mare–Dealul Mănăstirii (Rezina District, Republic of Moldova), attributed to the Cozia-Saharna culture, is of special interest. Fifty-two pottery samples were collected there, which were subjected to petrographic and chemical analyses. Also, in order to establish the provenance of the raw material used for pottery manufacture, samples were taken from the clay outcrops located at a distance of about 1.0 km southwest of the settlement. The results of these analyses, supplemented by the archaeological remains of a pottery workshop, as well as by the tools used for production and ornamenting of vessels, suggest a local manufacture.

Among the numerous vestiges of the Iron Age at Saharna Mare / “Dealul Mănăstirii”, there are 11 finds of human remains, which are of particular in¬terest for the interdisciplinary research of the site. In this article, we propose combining archaeological data with anthropological ones. The analyzed skele¬tal material comes from six types of archaeological contexts: “cultic structure”, “ditch”, “rampart”, “grave”, “dwelling”, and “cultural layer” (Fig. 2; 3). In all the analyzed cases the identified osteological remains come from a single individu¬al. In total, seven individuals were identified, one of whom is female and six are male. Regarding age distribution, most individuals fall within the age range of 30-60 years (maturus). One individual falls within the age range of 20-30 years (adultus), and another one has passed the age of 60 (senilis). As a result of the paleopathological analyses, a wide spectrum of dental pathologies (supragingi¬val calculus, cavities, abscess, antemortem tooth loss) and bone pathologies (os¬teoarthritis, intervertebral disc herniation, porotic hyperostosis) were recorded. The analysis of occupational indicators showed over-demanding physical activ¬ities, spatial mobility, and horseback riding. Traces of violent death, such as cra¬nial and postcranial fractures, have been reported in several cases. There were also identified injuries with signs of healing

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.

In the Middle Dniester region, as a result of field investigation, surveys, and archaeological researches 40 fortifications and 70 open settlements attributed to the Getic communities of the 4th-3rd centuries BC were discovered. In recent years, increased attention has been paid to the research of fortifications in the Saharna (16 sites) and Horodişte-Ţipova (7 sites) micro-zones. Based on field investigations and archaeological research, it has been observed that the defensive system of the fortifications in this region has some specific features, which are not attested in the rest of the Getic fortresses. Among these are the so-called “bastions”, which can be divided into two types according to the place of arrangement within the defensive system: bastions placed in front of the entrance gates, and “bastions” located on the perimeter of the fortification. The erection of defensive constructions of the bastion type as additional elements of the fortifications denotes the fact that the Getic communities of the Middle Dniester region had a thorough knowledge of the military architecture.

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.