A new law - a new perspective for the archaeological heritage preservation in the Republic of Moldova

In this paper the author is doing one of the first presentations of the Law of the Republic of Moldova on archaeological Heritage Preservation recently approved by the Parliament. Since 1993 we have a general Law on monument preservation, but there archaeological part is very poor developed. This is the first such Law in the legislation of Moldova and is done according to the European and International Convention which were signed last years by the Republic of Moldova. So, the Law content 48 articles concentrated in 11th chapters. In 1st chapter are presented the most important terms on the field: archaeological heritage, general juridical regime of the archaeological discoveries and research, etc. The 2nd chapter is devoted to the system and mechanisms of the archaeological heritage preservation. One of the most important parts of this chapter is the interdiction of using without permission the metal detectors. The 3rd chapter is dedicated to the responsibilities of the local and central public administration and working instruments in the field of archaeological heritage preservation. For first time in the Moldovan legislation is mentioned that the Ministry of Culture is obliged to register all private collections of the archaeological goods. The Law establishes foundation under the Ministry of Culture a new structure responsible for archaeological heritage reservation – National Archaeological Agency, as an executive body. Also, a re very well described the content of the National Archaeological Repertory, the National Archaeological Register, and Register of the archaeologists as important documents which should be done by the Government as instrument for preservation policies. In the 4th chapter are presented the attributes of the local public administration in the field of archaeological heritage preservation. The 5th chapter is encouraging the cooperation of the state bodies with NGOs and non-profit foundations. The 6th chapter is giving details on the priority interest archaeological areas. The 7th chapter is describing the principles, norms and mechanism of the research, conservation and restoration of the archaeological heritage. The 8th chapter is establishing the rules and legal regime of the temporary export and import of the archaeological goods. The 9th chapter is devoted to the financial issues. The 10th chapter is accounting the situations of contraventions in the field of archaeological heritage which should be penalizing according to the Civil, Contravention and Criminal Codes of the Republic of Moldova. The last, 11th chapter content the final dispositions addresses to the Government and Ministry of Culture, which should in three months after the Law will be in force to found the National Archaeological Agency and a list of norms in the field. Also, it is establishing the term of entrance in force of this law – in three month after publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Moldova (Monitorul Oficial). So, the new Law is giving a new opportunity for Moldovan society to improve the situation in the field of the archaeological heritage, to fight the black archaeology and illegal trafficking of antiquities, etc.