Archaeological cultural heritage of Moldova Gagauzia region: Problems and solutions

Cultural heritage as part of the material and spiritual culture, created by past generations, withstood the test of time and passed on to generations as something valuable and revered, is an important part of the life of every nation. Its study helps to better learn and understand the history of the formation of modern society, both in general and within a particular region. The development of a modern person is possible only based on the knowledge of ancestors, which makes it necessary to take measures to preserve it. The historical Budjak region in the south of modern Moldova and south-west of Ukraine, occupying the southern part of the Danube interfluve with the Prut and Dniester rivers flowing into it, is washed by the Black Sea in the south-east. This region has long been a peculiar region in linguistic, cultural and geographical terms. The steppe nature of the natural conditions in Budjak contributed to the fact that the region was mainly dominated by nomads, whose cultural traces are preserved in hundreds of burial mounds throughout the region. In addition to burial mounds, there are many other cultural traces of man in the region from the Stone Age to modern times. All of them are of value to science and should be protected as the cultural heritage of the region. Archeology is a science that studies the past of mankind and the patterns of its development based on material historical sources. During the Soviet Union, starting from the 50s and up to the end of the 80s, the main archaeological excavations of the region were carried out within the framework of one country, literature devoted to the archeology of the region was published, and museums were replenished. With the independence of Moldova, funding was cut, and the region itself was politically divided between the two countries, which made research even more difficult. Budjak, divided between Moldova and Ukraine, occupies a relatively small part of both countries, which explains the lack of attention to the region by both politicians and scientists. The political changes of the late 80s and 90s contributed to the emergence of a new player in the political map of the region. The authorities and intellectuals of the Gagauz Autonomous Region, whose lands are all within the Bucak region, have used Bucak as an element that unites the society. One of the main indicators of the development of society is the desire to preserve the cultural heritage of the land on which it is located, because a person without a past is a person without a future. Thus, the growing interest in the ancient history of the region, the answers to questions that archeology can give, speaks of the need to continue archaeological research on the territory of Budjak. The purpose of this research work is to identify the problems and solutions in preserving the archaeological cultural heritage of the Gagauzia Autonomous Region. To achieve the goal, works in the field of history and archeology of Budjak were studied, archaeological cultures that left a mark in the region were systematized. They touched upon the concept of cultural heritage, considered the problems of its preservation, studied the international and national regulatory framework as an integral part of the system of preserving cultural heritage. The paper also considered the development of archeology as a science in Moldova, scientific institutions that study the archaeological heritage as an integral part of the cultural heritage of Budjak and the prerequisites for creating an archaeological museum on the territory of Gagauzia, and considered museums in the future that have the opportunity to exhibit the archaeological heritage of Budjak. Basic research methods include elements of historical research, anthropological, chronological, comparative-typological and retrospective analysis. This work helps to draw attention to the research problem. The public demand for information about scientific discoveries in this area is natural, but the actual level of knowledge about the archaeological heritage remains very low. The situation when society feels the need for knowledge about the distant past, and the scientific archaeological community is not able to satisfy this interest, can lead to the flourishing of pseudoscientific theories, mysticism, etc. Only the availability of accessible and high-quality information channels that provide a link between the "archaeologist" and society will reduce this threat around cultural heritage sites. Key Words: Budjak, Gagauzia, Moldova, Bessarabia, Cultural Heritage, Archaeological Heritage