Keywords

1 Introduction

Non-invasive methods of researching archaeological sites in the Republic of Moldova were first applied as early as in the late 1960s, when V. Dudkin carried out geophysical measurements at a number of sites of the Cucuteni-Trypillia culture (Dudkin, 1980). Later, in the 1970s–1980s, K. Shishkin made the first reconstructions of large sites of the Cucuteni-Trypillia culture based on aerial photographs (Bicbaiev, 2007).

After a break of two decades, due to mixed projects with international participation, non-invasive research of archaeological sites in the Republic of Moldova at the beginning of the new millennium was developing sweepingly, which led to the discovery of new sites and a reassessment of the archaeological potential. To date, magnetometer surveys were undertaken about at 60 archaeological sites, and their number continues to grow.

From the first instruments used—caesium magnetometers (Sava & Kaiser, 2011; Niculiță et al., 2012; Asăndulesei, 2016; Țerna, 2016), to systems with 5 or 16 sensors (Sensys MAGNETO®-MX ARCH) (Rassmann et al., 2016), coupled to GPS systems (Leica RTK-DGPS (base/rover) (Țerna et al., 2019), the quality and speed of data collection has evolved, finally providing overviews of the archaeological structures that formed the basis for the subsequent research strategy.

2 Good Practice in Archaeological Diagnostics: Non-invasive Survey of Complex Archaeological Sites

In the following lines, we will review the most important actions through which geophysical and soil research methods have come into use in archaeological investigations in the Republic of Moldova. In order to provide a clearer picture, let us trace the evolution of non-invasive archaeological research in chronological order: from the oldest to the most recent, or from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages.

2.1 Neolithic

Although they were fewer, Neolithic sites have undergone magnetometer surveys since the early 1980s. The settlement of the Starčevo-Criș culture Săcărăuca I was the first of its kind. V. Dudkin provided the first image of the underground structures (Dudkin, 1980); the results of the magnetometer surveys were used for comprehensive archaeological research by excavating the site (Țerna, 2016). In the period from 2014 to 2019, six other sites of the Neolithic era, single or multi-layer ones, were partially or completely explored: Sîngerei XIX, Mihailovca VII, Chișcăreni XIV, Nicolaevca V, Bumbăta III, Găureni I, which confirmed, following archaeological surveys and excavations, the presence of remains of the Starčevo-Criș, Linear Pottery, and Pre-Cucuteni cultures (Țerna, 2016). Particular attention should be paid to the Nicolaevca V site, which has a special archaeological potential confirmed by geophysical surveys and archaeological research in 2014 and 2019. Even though the Neolithic settlement attributed to Linear Pottery culture is located in an area with anthropogenic impact, the site was investigated during two research campaigns. The first geophysical prospecting campaign covered an area of approx. 4 ha. On the magnetometer survey results, two clear areas were distinguished: the first, located in the northern part, contained anomalies from structures placed in a circle (attributed by means of excavations to the stage Pre-Cucuteni—Trypillia A); the second, located in the south, represented elongated anomalies from four dwellings of the Linear Pottery culture (Fig. 1, red circle). We should note here that on the territory of the Republic of Moldova, the site of Nicolaevca V, attributed to the Linear Pottery culture, is the first to be discovered using magnetometry in the eastern area of this cultural horizon. The 2019 geophysical surveys covered an area of approx. 4 ha. In order to identify the southwestern border of the settlement, the measurements revealed the remains of at least 13 longhouses with related longitudinal pits (Saile, 2020).

Fig. 1
Two magnetogram images of the Neolithic site Nicolaevca V highlight the areas containing longhouses from the linear pottery culture, characterized by longitudinal pits.

Results of the magnetometer survey at the Neolithic site Nicolaevca V. The red circle indicates the area of LBK (Linear Pottery culture) longhouses. (From Țerna, 2016)

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2.2 Copper Age

As we have indicated in the introductory part, large-scale magnetometer surveys on Copper Age sites in the Republic of Moldova began in the late 1960s. In the next 20 years, magnetometer surveys were carried out at 12 sites of the Cucuteni-Trypillia culture (Țerna, 2016). These sites are different in terms of size, location, and dating. Thus, out of the total number of settlements, only one site belongs to the Pre-Cucuteni—Trypillia A culture (Sevirova II), three sites refer to Cucuteni A—Trypillia BI (Brînzeni-Ostrov, Trifănești, Putinești III), one site belongs to Cucuteni A–B—Trypillia B1/B2 (Old Orhei), and six sites to Cucuteni B—Trypillia B2, C1 (Racovăț, Ivanovca, Sofia-La Moină I, Sofia-La Moină II, Glavan I, Sofia II-Găvan) (Țerna, 2016: 192). This trend of interdisciplinary research was maintained in the next ten years, until 2011. Consequently, magnetometer surveys were performed at five settlements belonging to the Cucuteni culture (A, A–B and B): Horodca Mare, Ochiul Alb, Cobani, Sîngerei, Petreni (Rassmann et al., 2016). In the recent period (2011–2021), the settlements of the Cucuteni culture at all phases of its development (Brănești, Stolniceni I, Cunicea I, Cunicea II, Cunicea III, Cunicea IV, Putinești III, Trinca-La Șanț, Gordinești II-Stânca Goală) and those of the Bolgrad-Aldeni/Gumelnița culture (Cucoara I, Cealîc, Chioselia Mare, Taraclia I) have been researched (Mistreanu & Przybyla, 2020).

Further, it is worth mentioning in more detail two sites of the Cucuteni-Trypillia culture, which stand out, on the one hand, by the size and spatial distribution of structures, and on the other hand, by the extent of archaeological research that followed the geophysical surveys.

Petreni. This site is indicative for the Southeast European Copper Age. It has a round shape in plan and covers an area of about 33 ha (Fig. 2(1)). The site has been known since the beginning of the twentieth century, being researched by E. von Stern during 1902–1903. In that first research campaign, eight structures were revealed: three in the central part of the plateau; two in its southern part; two in the western part; and one in the northern end of the settlement. In 1943–1944, archaeologists R. Vulpe and V. Zirra made several excavations in the southeastern part of the settlement; the results of the investigations have not been published. In 1947 the settlement was researched by T. Passek, during an exploration in the region. Later, in 1981, the site came to the attention of researchers V. Markevich and K. Shishkin, who also deciphered the first aerial photographs of the settlement. In 2009–2012, thanks to a Moldovan-German partnership between the Eurasia Department of the Roman-Germanic Commission of the German Archaeological Institute and the National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova, multidisciplinary research of the site was carried out. Amongst the most important results, we should first of all note, the obtaining of the geophysical and topographic plans of the settlement. The information provided by the magnetometer results was confirmed by excavations on several archaeological structures: dwellings, pits, and a ditch. Also, soil sampling and performing a new series of analyses (palaeobotanical, palaeozoological, pedological, radiocarbon) have contributed to the replenishment of databases on the phenomenon of proto-urban settlements in Southeastern Europe (Rassmann et al., 2016; Uhl et al., 2017).

Fig. 2
Two magnetogram photos of the Petreni and Stolniceni 1 archaeological sites exhibit the investigation of these two locations. The scale ranges from negative 3 to 3 nanoteslas.

Results of the magnetometer survey: 1—Petreni (From Rassmann et al., 2014); 2—Stolniceni I (From Țerna et al., 2019)

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Stolniceni I. Magnetometer surveys and archaeological excavations conducted in 2015–2019 revealed a large new site (27 ha), with a complex concentric structure (Fig. 2(2)). During the investigation, modern documentation methods were applied including the use of an electronic tachometer, photogrammetry, the use of differential GPS and a drone. Radiocarbon samples were taken for dating, as well as soil samples to determine element concentration to identify past activity areas using X-Ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF). The magnetometer survey results revealed about 370 dwellings, hundreds of pits, three ditches, a palisade, approx. 15 pottery kilns, access roads to the site, as well as areas of extra muros activity. The archaeological excavations undertaken in Stolniceni aimed to provide a more accurate interpretation of the result of the magnetometer survey by probing different types of geophysical anomalies, knowing the internal chronology of the settlement, and obtaining data on the social organisation of the prehistoric community. Thus, the remains of a surface dwelling, two pottery kilns and several pits in the enclosure were fully investigated. Along with the research of the fortification elements (ditches and palisade), the archaeological investigations revealed for the first time for the Cucuteni-Trypillia culture the existence of an access road. The data obtained as a result of archaeological excavations now make it possible to accurately interpret the geophysical plan, as well as to outline general guidelines regarding the internal chronology of the settlement and the way of organising economic activities, such as pottery production in certain areas of the site. Given the complex structure of the Stolniceni site, in which there are almost 30 quarters of dwellings of different sizes, the choice of research strategy was to be conditioned by the possibilities of detailed investigation of these stratigraphic units. Therefore, in 2019, a new working methodology was tested, based on minimally invasive archaeological research, which combines the systematic collection of surface archaeological materials with pedological drilling. This method allows, on the one hand, the collection of samples and materials for various types of analysis (chemical analysis of soil, human and animal DNA, botanical and palynological analysis, radiocarbon dating), and on the other hand, the investigation of many archaeological structures in a short time (Țerna et al., 2019).

The only Gumelniţa site that has benefited from a complex approach and an archaeological research strategy involving several methods (from excavation in 1982–1985 to magnetometer surveys in 2019) is the settlement of Taraclia I (Fig. 3). The results of a joint project with the University of Rzeszów (Poland) allowed a full site scan and revealed an important information about the defensive system (double-sided quadrilateral enclosure and access roads on each side) and residential area. Although difficult to interpret, the result of the magnetometer survey of the Taraclia I site provided important data on Copper Age settlements in southern Moldova, completing the settlement database of the Gumelniţa-Kodjadermen-Karanovo VI cultural complex and laying the groundwork for new research (Mistreanu & Przybyla, 2020).

Fig. 3
An aerial photo with the result of the magnetometer survey of the Gumelnita site at the Taraclia I archaeological site. The scale ranges from negative 5 to 5 nanoteslas.

Results of the magnetometer survey at Gumelniţa site—Taraclia I. (From Mistreanu and Przybyla (2020), licensed under CC-BY 4.0)

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2.3 Bronze Age

Although there are numerous Bronze Age sites in the Prut-Dniester region, the amount of interdisciplinary research carried out on them has been limited. However, it should be noted that in the past two decades, special attention has been paid to the Noua-Sabatinovka complex, where interdisciplinary research was carried out on several archaeological sites. The research, coordinated by E. Sava (National Museum of History of Moldova) and E. Kaiser (Free University of Berlin), was aimed at investigating objectives in two different areas of the Late Bronze Age archaeological heritage: the northern part (Noua culture) and the southern area (Sabatinovka culture). Regarding the sites of the Noua culture in the north of the Republic of Moldova, we note that 12 became known thanks to aerial photography carried out by K. Shishkin in the 60s and 80s of the last centuries, and the subsequent interpretation of the aerial photographs by V. Bicbaev. One of them is the Miciurin-Odaia settlement with ash lenses, which offered the most important results. The site, known since 1986, is multi-layered with cultural heritage from different eras, among which there are the remains attributed to the Copper Age (Cucuteni-Trypillia culture) and the Bronze Age (Noua culture). The latter are represented by the hillocks of “ash mounds”, the number of which varies depending on the stage of research and the consequences of anthropogenic activity, since this area has been affected by agricultural work overtime. Initially, based on aerial photographs taken in the late 1960s and satellite photographs, about 40 ashen spots were counted. The 2003 topographic map shows 25 “ash mounds”, the remains of which can be identified. In the same year, a quarter of the area occupied by the remains of an “ash mound” in the eastern part of the site was surveyed. Subsequently, the site research strategy aimed at conducting geophysical explorations, which covered an area of 7.50 ha in 2005, where 16 “ash mounds” were identified and confirmed, in the central and western part of the site. Interpretation of geophysical data made it possible to associate some anomalies in the space adjacent to the “ash mounds” with the line of a ditch, and others with the supposed access roads. In general, magnetometer surveys gave modest results compared to the expectations of the researchers, due to the lack of burned structures and other features able to provide enough magnetic contrast to be detected with such geophysical method (magnetometry). On the other hand, a number of pedological and mineralogical analyses provided particularly important information on the origin and functionality of the “ash mounds”. Element concentration analysis of soil samples from the “ash mounds” structures indicated a high content of calcium, phosphorus, and potassium. These results confirmed, in the opinion of the authors, that the “ash mounds” are the ruins of some structures made of clay, limestone and other materials of organic origin, which in the process of gradual degradation and mineralisation gave the soil a grey colour. On the other hand, the presence of carbohydrates confirmed the authors’ hypothesis that the ash-coloured soil, which gave its name to this type of structure, is the result of the action of pedogenetic factors, which excludes the thermal origin of “ash mounds” (Sava & Kaiser, 2011; Kaiser & Sava, 2014). Regarding the sites in the steppe region of the south of the Republic of Moldova, we note that recently (2016–2017) geophysical surveys were conducted at two sites attributed to the Sabatinovka culture: Taraclia-Gaidabul and Cazaclia II (Sava et al., 2017). As a result of the geophysical exploration, the identified anomalies will guide the choice of a future archaeological research strategy.

2.4 Early Iron Age

The impetus given by modern research to study the sites attributed to this chronological sequence is currently an isolated phenomenon, with many cases originating from the Middle Dniester region. The first geophysical surveys were carried out in 2010 at the multi-layered site of Saharna Mare (Fig. 4) by a mixed team consisting of specialists from the Moldova State University and the Arheoinvest Center of the “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași (Romania). In 2015, the results of the first magnetometer survey campaign were complemented with new datasets (Asăndulesei, 2016). In total, the measured area was about 6 ha out of a total of 13 ha occupied in the Iron Age. Among the positive magnetic anomalies identifed in the area, two semi-circular anomalies were associated with the remains of a hillfort (Fig. 4, red arrow). The subsequent archaeological excavations coordinated by I. Niculiță confirmed the existence of a hillfort with two components: a “citadel” of quasi-round shape in plan, ~74 × 76 m in size; and a semi-oval “enclosure”, 55 × 78 m in size on the north side. It should be mentioned that it is the first discovery of a fortification in the eastern area of the Saharna culture in the Early Iron Age. Subsequently, a group of researchers from the Moldova State University identified in the vicinity of the Saharna Mare site a new fortification of this period, Saharna “Rude”. As a result of a magnetometer survey covering an area of ~3 ha, several anomalies of archaeological potential were found, including one located at the northern edge of the settlement. It is circular in shape and consists of two concentric lines, the first of which has a diameter of ~50 m, and the second of 75 m. Also, this survey confirmed the presence of a large open settlement (~10 ha), and probably synchronous with the fortification, that was preliminarily identified by field observations. Future investigations are to clarify the time of the construction of the two defensive lines, as well as the stages of occupation of the promontory (Zanoci et al., 2020a).

Fig. 4
An aerial view of the magnetometer survey at Saharna Mare highlights the early Iron Age fortification and anomalies investigated from 2017 to 2019. The scale ranges from negative 15 nanoteslas to 15 nanoteslas.

Results of the magnetometer survey at Saharna Mare. The red arrow marks the Early Iron Age fortification, and the blue arrow marks the anomaly investigated in 2017–2019. (Adapted from Asăndulesei, 2016)

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Following this model and verifying the available information, in 2021, researchers discovered two other fortifications in the region (Saharna “Țiglău” and Țahnăuți), both of which were subjected to geophysical prospection. These initiatives, carried out within the project “The archaeological heritage of the Iron Age in the Middle Dniester region and the Cogâlnic River basin: interdisciplinary research and scientific development”, were strengthened by a bilateral research cooperation between the State University of Moldova and the German institutions—Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philipp’s University of Marburg, and the Roman-Germanic Commission of the German Archaeological Institute. In 2019, as part of this project, magnetometer surveys were conducted at four Iron Age sites near the village of Horodiște (Fig. 5). Among the studied sites, the habitation on the Horodiște promontory with the two fortified sites—“La Șanț” and “La Cot”—stands out. If it was initially considered that the habitation area included the entire plateau (28 ha), the geophysical results limited the living area to about 6 ha. In the intra muros space, the magnetometer survey results identified numerous anomalies, which can be grouped in three or four clusters of ~1 ha, which correspond to a scattered habitation with several cores of spreading of archaeological remains (Zanoci et al., 2020b). One of these anomalies, linearly arranged in the northwestern part of the promontory, was excavated in the summer of 2021. The results confirmed the presence of an Early Iron Age ditch and a rampart. It is worth mentioning here that it was initially believed that the plateau was inhabited mainly in the Late Iron Age. Along with the clarification of the period of operation of the defensive structures built on the promontory, further research will aim to understand the stages of occupation of the space during the Iron Age. The analysis of soil samples has shown that deposits in the cultural layer contain traces of carbonates, phosphorus, and potassium, which may indicate the decomposition of animal and plant waste, as well as the ash resulting from the burning of remains (Nagacevschi et al., 2019).

Fig. 5
An elevation map of Horodiste depicts various features, such as house pits, house remains, clay extraction pits, ditches, field boundaries, and iron deposits. The scale ranges from 179 to 197 meters.

Horodiște. Ortophotoplan of the site combined with interpretation of the results of the magnetometer survey. (From Zanoci et al., 2020b)

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2.5 Pre-Roman Iron Age

Among the sites from the fifth to third centuries BC, the site on the Saharna Mare promontory is one of the few archaeological sites that have been investigated by non-invasive methods. As mentioned above, the Saharna Mare site is multi-layered; the promontory had been inhabited uninterruptedly for a millennium (twelfth to third century BC). This is an aspect that may challenge the interpretation of the results of magnetometer surveys (and other geophysical techniques) due to the complexity of the deposition of the cultural remains. In this regard, the case of the targeted study of an anomaly in the western part of the site, which has an oval shape with dimensions of about 20 × 16 m, is indicative (Fig. 4, blue arrow). Three successive excavation campaigns (2017–2019) aimed at clarifying the nature of this anomaly, which turned out to be in fact, an overlap of several archaeological structures of the Early and the Late Iron Age (Niculiță et al., 2019). Of interest are the remains of a heavily burnt surface structure. The daub covered a pit house with a fire installation (hearth) and a burial structure. In the place of a burial, a grave pit with a catacomb was dug, purified by fire. A man over 60 years old is buried in the catacomb. Later, a clay-coated wooden superstructure was built in the pit. It seems that this structure was later burnt down. It is worth mentioning here that the first radiocarbon data for this site were obtained from this stratigraphic context. Among the archaeologically confirmed anomalies, mention should be made of the defensive line on the eastern side of the promontory, consisting of a rampart and eight semicircular bastions arranged four on each side (Fig. 4, yellow arrow).

The sites characteristic of the last two pre-Christian centuries began to be investigated quite recently. In 2015, the first magnetometer survey was carried out at the Poienești-Lucașeuca site at Brănești, covering a total area of ~4 ha (Meyer et al., 2020). Along with a few Copper Age dwellings, several structures attributed to the Poienești-Lucașeuca culture were identified, which were verified by small-scale excavations, thus opening the way for possible interpretations of the types of anomalies and non-invasive research of the sites belonging to this era. This was followed in 2016 by limited explorations at the Poienești-Lucașeuca site in Ivancea Sub-Pădure, which, despite its small size, provided an extremely expressive picture (Fig. 6), which made it possible to identify anomalies that even reflect pits from pillars of wooden structures as verified by test trenches (Meyer et al., 2020). The results obtained opened up new research prospects, already within the DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) project “Ausgrabung der Siedlung der Poienești-Lucașeuca Kultur von Ivancea-sub Pădure” (a joint project of the Free University of Berlin with the Ion Creangă State Pedagogical University of Chișinău). Among them, we highlight the priority and most important directions: magnetometer exploration of a larger area to capture the periphery of the site, as well as delimit the space where materials from other chronological horizons appear (the surveys were carried out in 2021 by a German service provider); collection and mapping of surface material in a GIS to pursue and complement the same goal; soil sampling to study phosphate concentrations, archaeobotanical remains, and soil erosion; 3D terrain modelling based on aerial photographs taken from drones. All actions are part of a broader strategy for preparing archaeological research over large areas and through the widest possible integration of interdisciplinary research methods.

Fig. 6
A magnetogram image exhibits the Ivancea-sub Padure site belonging to the Poiene?ti-Luca?euca culture. It reveals pits reflecting the presence of pillars from wooden structures, confirmed by test trenches. The scale spans from negative 10 to 10 nanoteslas.

Results of the magnetometer survey at Ivancea-sub Pădure, Poienești-Lucașeuca culture. (From Meyer et al., 2020)

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2.6 Roman Period

The sites of the Roman era began to be studied from the moment when the first recent projects of non-invasive research appeared on the territory of the Republic of Moldova. The first site to which they paid attention was the Sântana de Mureş-Černjachov settlement in Sobari. A stone enclosure with stone and wooden structures was discovered at its western end. In 2009, an area of ~1 ha was surveyed, covering the space inside the enclosure, as well as to the south of it. The preliminary image obtained from the magnetometer survey confirmed previous observations on the internal structure of the settlement, with relatively good traces of three sides of the stone enclosure in the northwestern part of the settlement (Musteață et al., 2017). In 2013–2016, a mixed team of researchers from the Moldova State University and the National Archaeological Agency carried out archaeological excavations, which were largely due to the degradation of the site (unauthorised sand mining) and were carried out in places of maximum risk. The results confirmed the site’s potential, revealing several well-preserved kilns (Matveev & Vornic, 2017). Among the large-scale magnetomer survey, the ones carried out at the site at Sângerei (2010) stand out, where more than 20 ha of the area were explored (Musteață et al., 2017). The results revealed an elongated magnetic anomaly, with a length of about 28.0 m. We conclude the presentation of the research for this period by mentioning the site from Putinești, where 8.2 ha were explored, and among the many anomalies of archaeological interest there was a ceramic kiln (Fig. 7, red circle) (Voß et al., 2015).

Fig. 7
A magnetogram photo of the Putine?ti site from the Late Antiquity period displays geomagnetic anomalies indicating archaeological features such as a ceramic kiln and concentrations of pottery. The scale ranges from negative 5 nanoteslas to 5 nanoteslas.

Results of the magnetometer survey of the site Putinești, the Late Antiquity. (From Voß et al., 2015)

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3 Middle Ages

Regarding the medieval sites, the first non-invasive investigations were carried out at the medieval site of Old Orhei (Orheiul Vechi), which, in addition to several cultural layers, preserves traces of the Tatar medieval town of Shehr al Jedid and the Moldavian town of Old Orhei. The research was a collaboration between the Ion Creangă State Pedagogical University of Chișinău, the German Archaeological Institute and the National Museum of the Eastern Carpathians, Romania. At the first stage, in 2009, an area of 30 × 40 m inside the medieval citadel was explored (Popa et al., 2010). Numerous anomalies of archaeological potential have been identified, including the contours of rooms with walls up to three meters, most likely made of stone, adjoining the enclosure and partially open to the inside of it (Popa & Musteață, 2019).

In the autumn of 2014, the same team carried out a new magnetometer survey of the medieval site of Old Orhei as part of a study to include in the application for the inclusion of the Old Orhei cultural landscape in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The surveys covered 29 research units revealing several anomalies that require additional field verifications to determine a more accurate interpretation, but also to determine the strategy of further research (Popa & Musteață, 2019). Also in 2014, the American College for Cultural Site Research and Management (CSRM) (Baltimore, USA) carried out a study at the same site focused on LiDAR data. The results revealed two enclosures and landscape features, confirming and refining the information already available, but also providing information previously unknown (Fig. 8). The team from the Ion Creangă State Pedagogical University, in collaboration with the Free University of Berlin and a service provider of geophysical surveys (Eastern Atlas, Berlin), returned to the same site in 2021, conducting targeted magnetometer surveys in the area of the first defensive rampart at the promontory. The results outlined a rectangular structure of imposing dimensions in the intra-muros area.

Fig. 8
A representation of Orheiul Vechi exhibits a hillshade created with L i D A R technology. The red circles emphasizes the hillfort remnants, comprising two walled portions, as well as other landscape features.

Orheiul Vechi. The LiDAR derived hillshade (red circles indicate the remains of the hillforts). (From Musteaţă et al. (2017), licensed under CC-BY 3.0)

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The second medieval Tatar town, located near the village of Costești, even though it is of great interest and was included in the list of priorities of the project “Geophysical surveys in Moldova” (collaboration of the Ion Creangă State Pedagogical University of Chișinău with the Roman-Germanic Commission of the German Archaeological Institute), was not subjected to magnetometer surveys due to unfavourable weather conditions during the planned period. The third medieval site of national importance—the medieval fortress of Soroca—became the object of geophysical prospection in the fall of 2012 and in the summer of 2013, within the project “Non-destructive investigations in complex archaeological sites. An integrated model for applied research of the immovable cultural heritage”. It was developed by several institutions from the Republic of Moldova and the Arheoinvest Research Center of the “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University and Museum of the Eastern Carpathians (Romania). The techniques used included ground penetrating radar (GPR) and magnetometry. The surface surveyed with the magnetometer was about 4650 m2, and an area of about 1500 m2 was investigated by measuring the electrical resistance of the soil, the authors managed to draw a complex research perspective of this important site for the Republic of Moldova, which partially began to materialise, providing extremely valuable information (Musteață et al., 2018). The geophysical results guided the subsequent 14 targeted archaeological excavation that covered an area of more than 200 m2. These investigations resulted in the registration of a rich collection of archaeological material and resolve some problems related to the architecture, stages of construction and dating of the site.

4 Conclusion

Summarising the above, we find that the stereotypical picture of a sharp lag in the use of geophysical and soil science methods in Moldova requires a radical correction. We pay special attention to the activities of researchers in the Republic of Moldova in recent years, which come to confirm an increasingly clear connection with the modern methods aligning with the general trends of the development of modern archaeology. Obviously, the actions taken so far are relatively modest, even if some of the results are impressive, for example, at the sites of the Copper Age, which provide clear images of the internal organisation of settlements, types and sizes of archaeological structures, but what is more important opening up new opportunities for the development of research strategies. At the same time, in all types of sites, regardless of the periods to which they belong, the experiences of soil scientists are increasingly used, which offers new perspectives in interdisciplinary research. In other words, even if we still have a lot to do in this area, the direction and growing pace, with which geophysical and soil research is being adopted by archaeologists, make us look optimistically to the future of research in the Republic of Moldova.