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Contemporary farming practices and rapid industrialization over the last few decades, have raised significant soil and water pollution with extreme toxic effects to humans and ecosystems. The widespread and inefficient use of pesticides, which surpass the soil’s self purification capability, has accelerated soil pollution. In this study, wheat straw biochar was obtained using the traditional pyrolysis technique and its characterization; in addition, the adsorption efficiency of metribuzin was investigated. Biochars’ physical and chemical characteristics were qualified using scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. A batch sorption test and liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry were also used to assess the biochar efficiency. SEM and FTIR confirmed the highly reactive surfaces of biochar, establishing efficient biomass conversion in low-oxygen conditions. The adsorption process showed best fit with pseudo second-order kinetic and Langmuir models, suggesting a chemisorption procedure and monolayer-type removal. Regarding its environmental and agricultural application, wheat straw biochar can be advanced as a recommendation solution for further research, which is fundamental for soil rehabilitation and the immobilization of contaminations.

Herbicide residue analysis has gained importance worldwide, mainly for food quality control to minimize potentially adverse impacts on human health. A Gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method for quantitative analysis of acetochlor and s-metolachlor in maize and soybean straw has been developed, validated and applied to analyze the residues of anilide herbicides. Straw material was dried, homogenized and extracted with a mixture of n-hexane and acetone by an accelerated solvent extraction method. Chromatographic separation of the target analytes was performed on an Agilent 7832 GC equipped with a mass spectrometer detector, a split-splitless injector and an HP-5 MS (5% phenylmethyl siloxane) capillary column (30 m × 0.25 mm × 0.25 µm). Under these parameters, the limit of detection (LOD) values were 0.2 ng g−1 for acetochlor and 0.07 ng g−1 for s-metolachlor, with average recoveries between 86% and 119.7%. The method was validated for acetochlor and s-metolachlor in maize and soybean straw at 0.5 and 0.01 mg kg −1. Furthermore, the final residues of the two herbicides in maize and soybean straw were below the maximum residue limit (MRL) at harvest time. The proposed method is suitable for routine analysis.

Spring frost poses a challenge for all major crops and, in the case of Lupinus mutabilis (Andean lupin) can cause severe damage or even total loss of the crop. Within the LIBBIO project consortium, we conducted a series of experiments in order to develop a suitable protocol for screening lupin germplasm under frost-simulation conditions. Four lupin accessions, one Lupinus albus and three Andean lupins were used in the experiments (L. albus Mihai, L. mutabilis LIB 220, LIB 221, LIB 222). Seedlings at four developmental stages were challenged with five different levels of ‘frost’ stress from low (−2 °C) to high (−10 °C). Notably, young seedling (cotyledons just breaking through the soil surface) showed little evidence of frost damage for temperatures down to −6 °C. At −8 °C, however, damage was evident, suggesting a cold tolerance threshold occurs at this temperature. Interestingly, for later developmental stages, when the first and second leaves were visible, notable differences were observed starting at −6 °C. The results indicate that the plant growth stage is an important parameter when screening for frost tolerance in germplasm. Overall, by identifying Andean lupin genotypes adapted to high abiotic stress factors, farmers will be able to use it as a reference crop with potentially a commercial interest from the food sector, or cosmetics, and biofuel industries.

Scientists and food producers are studying the potential of utilizing different by-products as highly nutritious food components to meet consumers’ growing demand for healthier and natural goods. Beetroot belongs to the Amaranthaceae family and is highly rich in antioxidants, specifically phenolics and betalains with excellent health properties. The peel of red beetroot, which is generally discarded, has a high concentration of bioactive phytochemicals (betalains, dietary fibers). These compounds are well-known for their strong antioxidant effects, improving cardiovascular health, reducing oxidative stress, and enhancing immunological function. Incorporating red beetroot peel (RBP) powder into whey-fruit-based beverages is a promising method to improve nutritional content and sensory attractiveness. This study investigated the influence of adding RBP to whey-fruit-based beverages, specifically examining its effects on physicochemical and phytochemical characteristics, antioxidant capacity, color, microbiological, and rheological attributes, and consumer preference. The RBP extract exhibited high amounts of total polyphenols (1239.35 ± 0.51 mg GAE/100 g dw) and antioxidant activity (90.02 ± 0.22%). The findings indicated that RBP had a notable impact on the antioxidant capacity (16.38 ± 0.37 μmol TE/g dw for BRBP1, 26.69 ± 0.10 μmol TE/g dw for BRBP3, 36.75 ± 0.31 μmol TE/g dw for BRBP6) of the beverages and enhanced their color without negatively impacting their sensory characteristics. The dynamic oscillatory rheological measurements revealed that beverage supplementation with increasing amounts of RBP obtained stronger networks with solid-like viscoelastic behavior. Using RBP powder as a natural food ingredient in whey-fruit-based beverages enhances their nutritional value and promotes sustainable food processing by making use of by-products from the food industry into innovative food options.

Currently, global environmental concerns about heavy metal pollution are driven by rapid urbanization and industrial development. Therefore, a field study was conducted to assess the concentration of heavy metals (Pb, Co, Zn, Ni and Cu) in orchard soils and its transfer to two plum varieties (Stanley and Anna Späth) at Adamachi Farm – Iasi University of Life Sciences (IULS). In addition, heavy metal transfer (MTF), daily metals intake (DIM) and the index of health risk (HRI) were evaluated. The concentration of Pb, Co, Zn, Ni and Cu in soil and plum leaves samples were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometry after acid digestion with a mixture of HNO3 (65%), HCl (37%) and HClO4 (60%). Metal concentration patterns occurred as follows 130.65>76.6>30.36> 21.69>13.26 mg/kg for Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb and Co in soil samples and 20.16>10.00> 2.10>1.68 mg/kg for Zn, Cu, Ni and Pb in plum leaves, while Co residue was not detected. The maximum heavy metal concentrations were found at the soil surface (0 – 30 cm depth) due to soil organo-mineral content and antifungal treatments. The health risk index predicted (HRI) for adults as well as children was in the sequence Pb > Cu > Ni > Zn, suggesting no health risk with values that did not exceed the safe limit (1). Therefore, it is essential to manage the causes and sources of heavy metal transfer prudently and effectively in order to prevent environmental contamination.

Environmental protection, global food security, and nutritional quality are critical issues for worldwide sustainable development. Plums (Prunus domestica L.), well-known for their rich nutritional content and distinct phytochemical profile, have received increased attention due to their potential health benefits. The present study evaluates the ecological and conventional management systems of quality parameters in three plum varieties—Tuleu Gras, Record, and Centenar—and establishes suitable practices to improve fruit quality and yields. The fruit morphometric features (color, firmness, soluble solid content, titratable acidity, and total sugar) were analyzed during their raw fruit state, while different fruit-sample extracts were assessed for phytochemical compounds and heavy metal concentrations, specifically, zinc, copper, nickel, and cadmium. The results show a wide variability in the examined characteristics among management practices that differentially accumulated throughout the ripening phase and significantly influenced the nutritional value of the plum fruit. The application of an ecological management practice yielded small plum fruits (38 g) and maintained a more consistent and vigorous fruit color compared with the conventional system (83 g). Moreover, ecological plums have higher antioxidant activities, total polyphenols, and flavonoids (21.70–25.54 µM Trolox/g of dw, 3.89–7.76 mg GAE/ g of dw, and 1.45–3.65 mg CE/g of dw, respectively). Among the content of metals in the plum fruit, copper exhibited the highest concentrations (0.83–1.21 mg/kg), while cadmium was detected at the lowest levels (0.006–0.009 mg/kg). The potential health implications of heavy metals, by calculating their estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), and hazard index (HI), for both adults and children were also analyzed. The EDI values of accumulated elements in the plum fruits followed the order of Cu > Zn > Ni > Cd with no concern for human health (THQ and HI < 1). According to this study’s findings, fruit quality parameters are significantly higher in ecological plums, providing a compelling argument for adopting sustainable agricultural practices. These results highlight the importance of selecting sustainable agricultural practices, not only to safeguard the environment but also to ensure high-quality products suitable for human consumption.

During the last decades, no-tillage has started to be used on more and more areas, being a conservative tillage system practiced in many farms in the country. The aim of this study was to quantify the effects of the no-tillage system on the physical properties of the soil compared to the conventional system, in a plateau area with cambic chernozem soil under the current climatic conditions in the north-east of Romania, in order to implement it in agricultural practice of the studied area. The soil samples were taken in natural and undisturbed conditions for bulk density and moisture content, soil penetration resistance was determined using the Eijkelkamp penetrologger. The status of soil compaction, the various porosity categories, and the soil moisture content were all determined based on field and laboratory analysis. Measurements performed at a depth of 0-40 cm showed a lower bulk density in the conventional system, and in terms of variation in values from sowing to harvesting, there was a maximum increase of 18% in the 10-20 cm soil layer, an intermediate of 10% in the topsoil and 20-30 cm layers, and a minimum of 1% in the 30-40 cm layer. Total porosity, which reflects soil pore volume, is inversely correlated with bulk density, which means that under conventional tillage practices, soil macropore volume (>0.05 cm) was higher (47.79-60.82% v/v) than under no-tillage practices (45.90-50.79% v/v) for 0-40 cm depth at the sowing time. The results confirm that the no-tillage system conserves more water in the soil under current climatic conditions.

Tillage practices govern crop quality and quantity through soil nutrient availability and crop root systems. A deeper knowledge of the impact of conservation tillage on soil chemical characteristics (such as pH, soil organic carbon, macro and micronutrient storage and distribution) is required for both the promotion of agricultural sustainability and environmental preservation. This study assesses the changes in soil features and properties in the context of a long-field experiment with different tillage systems and straw management practices. Research findings revealed that compared with conventional tillage (CT) conservative tillage with partial straw retention (MT) and no-tillage with straw mulching (NT) substantially boosted the organic carbon (OC) (by 6–19%), total nitrogen (TN) (by 2–12%), and available potassium content (AK) (by 2–5%), in 0–30 cm soil depth. However, the stratification trend was observed for available macro and micronutrient content (Zn, Fe, Mn) in both conservative management practices. The concentration of Cu indicates a constant pattern through a 0–30 cm soil profile with a higher concentration under MT (1.41 mg kg−1) compared to NT (1.10 mg kg−1). In particular, the results failed to establish if conservation tillage can increase the total phosphorus (TP) and potassium content (TK), where only in surface 0–10 cm an increase was observed. This research also suggested that the X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) of total micronutrient content (Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn) is minimal or unpredictable with no substantial differences between the tillage systems and straw return management practices. These findings suggest that conservation tillage in north-eastern Romania might be optimal to maintain soil quality status and sustain high yields.

Researchers and food manufacturers are investigating the use of fruit and vegetable by-products as nutrient-dense food ingredients in response to increasing consumer requests for healthier and more natural foods. Black carrot (Daucus carota L.), a root vegetable variety of deep purple carrot, is a valuable source of nutrients with excellent health benefits and nutraceutical effects. Black carrot pomace (BCP), a by-product of industrial juice extraction, is abundant in bioactive compounds, dietary fiber, antioxidants, and pigments such as anthocyanins. Value addition and sustainability are perspectives provided by using this underutilized agricultural by-product in food applications. With an emphasis on BCP powder’s effects on phytochemical and physicochemical qualities, mineral and color characteristics, and sensory aspects, this study aims to assess the effects of adding BCP powder to yogurt formulations. The findings show that the addition of BCP powder improved the nutritional, and the color of the yogurts, providing a visually appealing product. Moreover, adding the BCP powder raised the amount of phytochemicals and the antioxidant activity in the final product’s formulation. The manufacturing of such products can not only aid in promoting sustainable food production but also offer consumers a wider range of innovative food options with improved properties.

Transylvania and Wallachia, like the Caucasus and the Middle Dnieper, can be considered the centers of the genesis of Scythian-bladed weapons, especially in the Early Scythian period. Furthermore, the early Scythian time was the period of the creative reinvention of the Gudermes and Kelermes traditions, which led to the appearance in Transylvania of the Posmuș and Deleni types of akinakai, and in Wallachia – of the Ferigile type of the second half of the 7th – the turn of the 7th-6th centuries BC. The distribution of the early Scythian swords and daggers allows us to conclude that their penetration into the Carpathian-Danube region took place on two main routes: along the northern border of the forest-steppe to Transylvania at the initial stage, and later – along the southern border between steppe and forest-steppe, through the Bărăgan plain to the South Carpathians. Moreover, one of the earliest finds of an akinakes with an antenna pommel (Frata type of the second half of the 7th century BC) was also found in Transylvania.

The “ceremonial” forms of swords and daggers—that is, bladed weapons decorated with precious metals—occupy a special place in the culture of the early nomads. For the Scythian period, we know at least 76 ceremonial objects from 61 sites, corresponding to 3.5% of the total sample. More than half of the finds come from the northern Black Sea region (mainly Ukraine). Ceremonial forms are represented in all morphological categories (from daggers to extra-long swords), but their distribution is slightly different. Most akinakai belong to the average and long swords. Most Scythian akinakai in Eurasia belong to the dagger and short sword groups. Although most Scythian swords and daggers fall into the Middle Scythian period, most ceremonial forms belong to the last phase of Classical Scythian culture. This period is a veritable “golden autumn” of Scythia with its huge royal burial mounds and abundance of gold, perfectly illustrating our argument that conspicuous consumption coincides with periods of political and social instability. After the peak of the proliferation of ceremonial akinakai in the third quarter of the 4th century BC, we observe a generation later the complete disappearance of Classical Scythian culture, along with its characteristic weapons, horse harnesses, and animal style.

This article presents the iconographic analysis and contextualization of a unique object in the archaeology of the Eurasian steppes: a particular kind of sword, also known as an akinakes, identified during regular excavations in the Filippovka-1 cemetery. The ritual sword was found in Barrow 4, Burial 2, and features an elaborate iconographic scheme made of gold which is used for the decoration of both sides of the blade and the handle of the object. The paper provides categorization and precise analysis of the scenes and figures represented on the blade which, although apparently difficult to interpret, are in fact characterized by a series of repetitive patterns alternating with single scenes of a more “ritual” character. In addition, a new analysis of the sword’s chronology and its general contextualization are proposed.

The dam of the reservoir Cuibul Vulturilor, located on the Tutova river is an inhomogeneous earth dam with a maximum height of 15.0 m, with a clayey central core and lateral prisms made of clayey-dusty sands. For tracking the evolution of body dam seepage, 12 piezometers and a drainage pipe with discharge in the downstream connection channel of the bottom outlet are used. The paper presents the characteristic elements of the theoretical infiltration curve in the dam It also shows the hydro isohypses for the dam drawn with SURFER program, using the maximum hydrostatic levels in the piezometers measured in the year 2019. The distribution of the hydro isohypses across the dam is strongly influenced by the location of the piezometers and the other point of measuring the hydraulic head. The pattern circulation of the infiltration water inside the dam body could be studied with increased accuracy, if the dam had been equipped with several piezometers. Even in these conditions, it is clearly observed that the regime of infiltrations through the dam body is similar to the theoretical way of behavior.

Bronze items from the Noua-Sabatinovka cultures mainly come from hoards or are strayfinds, while being very rare found in settlements. They are usually represented by pins, awls, chisels, sometimes ornaments, knives, daggers, or socketed axes. In the collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova, there are more than 70 such items, some of which have been published. The goal of this paper is the presentation of this collection, as well as the analysis of the chemical composition of the metal, which will clarify some issues of the metal objects spread in the settlements of the Noua-Sabatinovka cultures on the territory of the Republic of Moldova.

Bronze cauldrons of the Scythian time are a rather rare find in the Northern Black Sea region, especially on its western borders. Therefore, those few items found on the territory of the Republic of Moldova occupy a worthy place in the collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova (NMHM). In particular, at the moment in the main archaeological exhibition two bronze cauldrons are displayed, which were discovered near the village of Nikolskoe in 1988 in burial mounds no. 14 and no. 15. In addition, already in 2020, two bronze cauldrons without any accompanying documents were found in the collection of NMHM; however, they were visually identified as coming from various excavations in the Low Dniester region: from the burial mound no. 45 near Dubossary and burial mound no. 1 near the Răscăieţii Noi village. Scythian bronze cauldrons in the west area are concentrated in three main regions: Bukovina Podolia (Iacobeni, Ivane-Puste, Shvaikivtsy), the Lower Dniester (Răscăieţii Noi, Nikolskoe, Dubossary, Coiburciu), and the Lower Danube (Ograda, Castelu, Scorţaru Vechi, Mresnota Mogyla, Ostrovnoe). Some Scythian cauldrons have no reliable archaeological context. Nevertheless, in combination with the same “stray” finds like the Scythian statues, the finds of Scythian cauldrons mark the Scythian presence, most likely, not earlier than the late 6th century or even the turn of the 6th-5th centuries BC. There is a significant chronological difference between the northern (forest-steppe, Bukovina-Podolia) group of cauldrons and the southern (steppe, Lower Danube-Lower Dniester). At the same time, a chronological priority is characteristic of the first, where the cauldrons are known since the middle of the 7th century BC. Bronze cauldrons (with their carriers) penetrate the steppe region 150-200 years later, as well as the “military” burials that appear in the western steppe regions no earlier than the middle of the 5th century BC. Most of the burials with cauldrons (and, apparently, the stray finds) are dated back to the second half of the 5th century BC. Then, at the early 4th century BC their quantity is reduced and after the first quarter of the 4th century BC they will completely disappear from the cultural practice of the population of the steppes of the North-Western Black Sea region.

Bronze cauldrons of the Scythian time are a rather rare find in the Northern Black Sea region, especially on its western borders. Scythian bronze cauldrons in the west area are concentrated in three main regions: Bukovina and Podillya (Iacobeni, Avrămeni, Ivane-Puste, Shvaikivtsy), the Lower Dniester (Răscăieții Noi, Nikolskoe, Dubăsari, Cioburciu), and the Lower Danube (Ograda, Castelu, Scorțaru Vechi, Mresnota Mogyla, Ostrivne). Some Scythian cauldrons have no reliable archaeological context. Nevertheless, in combination with the same “stray” finds like the Scythian statues, the finds of Scythian cauldrons mark the Scythian presence, most likely, not earlier than the late 6th century or even the turn of the 6th-5th centuries BC. There is a significant chronological difference between the northern (forest-steppe, Bukovina-Podillya) group of cauldrons and the southern (steppe, Lower Danube-Lower Dniester). At the same time, a chronological priority is characteristic of the first, where the cauldrons are known since the middle of the 7th century BC. Bronze cauldrons (with their carriers) penetrate the steppe region 150-200 years later, as well as the “military” burials that appear in the western steppe regions no earlier than the middle of the 5th century BC. Most of the burials with cauldrons (and, apparently, the stray finds) are dated back to the second half of the 5th century BC. Then, at the early 4th century BC their quantity is reduced and after the first quarter of the 4th century BC, they will completely disappear from the cultural practice of the population of the steppes of the North-Western Black Sea region.

The archaeological landscape of the Lower Danube was changing with the importance of the Danube itself, which either became, or a cultural water¬shed, or an artery, connecting the ancient communities. In the Early Iron Age, it seems that the Danube did not become an invincible barrier for the spread of offensive weapons of Scythian origin. Moreover, Dobruja itself looks like a ter-ritory mastered by the Scythians, starting from the Archaic period. The Lower Danube group forms a separate “steppe” cultural assemblage together with the Lower Dniester, South Carpathian and South Danube groups, for which the spear became the main type of weapon. However, these preferences were re¬flected in the morphology of the Scythian akinakes. So, for this steppe or Dan-ube enclave, swords are more characteristic than daggers. Daggers are connected mainly with the forest-steppe part of the Carpathian-Dniester region and Transylvania.

Soil pesticide contamination induced by modern agriculture has become a serious global issue. Its uncontrolled and inefficient application is among the main reasons for their enrichment in plants and animals subsequently transferred to humans and providing a public health risk. Biochar as a renewable and economical carbonaceous material provides a natural solution for immobilizing pesticides and improving soil health. The biochar impact in agricultural contaminated soil is governed by various factors such as the physico-chemical properties of biochar, pyrolysis, soil conditions, and the application method, which can lead to significant gaps in the removal or mitigation of toxic substances. The current study summarizes the negative effects of pesticide use and the advantages of biochar according to other remediation techniques, succeeded by the mechanism and controlling factors on minimizing pesticide leaching and bioavailability in soil. In addition, the role of biochar on fundamental processes of adsorption, desorption, biodegradation, and leaching is discussed. Ultimately, the major future research regulation and key strategies that are fundamental for pesticide-contaminated soil remediation are proposed.

In 2016 authors of this paper obtained information about three Scythian daggers from the territory of Moravia. They were found by unknown persons with the help of metal detectors in the vicinity of Brno, near Horákovský hrad. The dagger no. 2 is the earliest one and due to its features like triangular blade, massive kidney-like hilt and narrow elongated pommel could be attributed to the of Vettersfelde type of the second half – end of 6th century BC. Daggers №1 and №3 are characterized by small segment-like hilts which could date back these items to mid 6th – mid 5th centuries BC. Scythian swords and daggers were totally unknown on the territory of Czech Republic, thus the finds from Horákovský hrad greatly expand the geography of Middle Scythian akinakai. Moreover, this discovery in Moravia allows to connect Lusatian and Vekerzug areas of distribution of Scythian weaponry and could outline the pathways of bladed weapons far to the west of the main territory of the Scythians

In December 2014 the National Museum of History of Moldova received an iron object - single edged sica dagger, found on the territory of Trebujeni-„Potârca” hillfort. Unfortunately, the circumstances of its finding do not permit reliably judge the context of discovery, but the location itself allows to link this finding with Poieneşti-Lukaševka cultural horizon. Basing on the chronological observations it could be assumed that the dagger from Potârca dates back to LtD1 period or late 2nd - early 1st centuries BC and linked with the activity of Padea-Panagjurski Kolonii cultural group.

A specific feature of early Scythian Akinakai daggers is their manufacture from bronze, most often with iron alloy. The technology of making bimetallic handles is connected with the "Cimmerian scheme" known for the manufacture of so-called Kabardino-Piatigorsk daggers type. The latest copies of this type are present in sites dated to the mid-7th century BC which is reason to consider them as Scythian akinakes predecessors. Scythian bimetallic technology workshops was inherited from their predecessors and the first daggers of this kind are associated with type Gudermes which appeared at the end of the 8th - beginning of the 7th century in the Caucasus. Early Akinakai, Posmuş type, are also known in the Carpathian basin and are made entirely or partly of bronze.

In 2011, a barrow (no. 7) was excavated near the village of Purcari (Ștefan Vodă district, Republic of Moldova). The main Scythian burial contained the skeleton of a male, 30-35 years old, extended on the back, with the head to the W. In the SW part of the burial chamber, a Heraclea-type amphora, two iron spearheads and two javelins were placed. The amphora bears a stamp with the inscription “Eurydamos”, thus ascribing it to the so-called early manufacturing group (5th - late 4th century B.C.). An Attic black-glazed saltcellar with concave walls was located near the right shoulder. A pair of anatomically-shaped bronze greaves (cnemides) was found on the legs. On the chest of the deceased several fragments of iron plates were identified, which could have been the remains of a flat body armor made of leather, covered with iron plates. The burial also contained approx. 110 bronze arrowheads concentrated in different locations. The preliminary chronological analysis of the grave inventory shows that the most convenient chronological framework for this grave is the late 5th c. B.C. An akinakes-type iron sword decorated in zoomorphic style was placed across the hips, with the hilt in the left hand. The pommel extends on each side into two semi-abstract bird heads. Akinakes analogies are spread over a vast territory from the lower Danube to Southern Ural in 450-350 B.C. Ornithomorphic motifs in the design of Scythian akinakes appear in the early 6th c. BC. The specific shape of the pommel ornate with stylized bird heads (or claws of a bird of prey) and an eye at the bottom is the stylistic development of earlier pommel types decorated in a more realistic manner. This article sets out to gather swords and daggers with such stylistic traits in a separate type called Solokha type (after the famous Royal barrow with an akinakes of this type). In this paper we discuss the chronology of complexes with Solokha type akinakes and establish the main chronological limits for their wide distribution between 410—370 BC. Special attention is drawn to the stray finds of such swords and daggers, which spread from Bulgaria in the West to Tyumen in the East.

Papers devoted to the typology of certain categories of the material culture need the close cooperation with the local schemes. A change of researching “optics” is likely to have a positive effect on the process of studying the general trends in the material, if this process of research is closely linked with the base of any typological constructions – with the spatial and chronological relations analysis. Besides the publication of new stray finds and partial republication of already known finds from the burial complexes, the main goal of this work is the checking of certain typological tendencies of such category of Scythian culture as akinakai (Scythian swords and daggers) of the Carpathian-Dniester region. A geographical division of Carpathian-Dniester region is proposed: Middle Dniester (Bukovinian) group, Eastern Carpathian (Neamţ) group, Siret-Dniester (Moldavian) group, Lower Dniester and Lower Danube groups. Chronologically, the massive of akinakai of Carpathian-Dniester region could be divided into three groups: Early Scythian (650-550 BC), Middle Scythian (550-450 BC) and Classic Scythian (450-300 BC). The following trends connected with Scythian swords and daggers were noticed: Early Scythian burials with akinakai concentrate in Bukovina and stray finds in Moldova, Middle Scythian burials – are grouping in Moldavian and the stray finds – in Neamţ group, and the Classical Scythian burials with akinakai are presented only in Lower Dnister and Lower Danube groups.

The article publishes two new hoards and several solitary finds of bronze items from the Prut-Dniester interfluve. These finds can be dated the late Bronze Age and Early Hallstatt periods and relate to the Sabatinovka and Noua cultures, as well as to different early Hallstatt groups. Of special interest is the hoard from Brăneşti containing some types of items which until now were not known on the territories to the west from the Dniester. Also, remarkable is the structure of these two hoards, which may indicate a votive character of their deposition.