The Moldova State University has acquired the right to conduct archaeological research in 1966. Since this year until today the researchers of our institution conducted systematic archaeological investigations at several sites in the territory of the Republic of Moldova: Hansca, Suruceni, Dănceni, Bălăbăneşti, Butuceni etc., and since 2001 we have focused on studying archeological sites in the micro-zone of Saharna. During this time, along with teachers of archaeology, the process of research involved students and postgraduate students not only from our university, but also from other institutions of higher education in Moldova and abroad: from Romania, Russia, Ukraine and since 2014 from Germany. Thus the archaeological excavations organized by the Moldova State University received the status of a school, already 49 groups of graduates participated. In order to expand the range of knowledge of collaborators, to diversify research topics and to familiarize students and postgraduate students with research methods used in other universities, in 2011 the Saharna Summer Colloquiums began, which eventually gained a permanent status. It usually opens in July, within the most prestigious archaeological site in the Middle Dniester region – Saharna Mare. The Colloquium invites teachers and doctoral students from universities and scientifi c centers of the Republic of Moldova, Romania, Ukraine and other countries, and presents the latest results of scientifi c research to students. Topics of the Colloquiums vary from year to year, but in terms of chronology they fi t in the period of time from the late Bronze Age to the Iron Age, which corresponds, in general, to the specialization of our institute. The Colloquium in 2014 was organized jointly with the Department of Prehistory and Early History of the Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, and, accordingly, the subject chosen for our meeting covered a wider geographical area, including the territories of Central Europe. The topic of discussion was Fortifi ed sites from the 1st millennium BC in Central and South-Eastern Europe. The participants from Germany, Romania and the Republic of Moldova have contributed in this project. In the course of studying of this collection of articles both experts in the fi eld, and all those interested can see the commonalities and diff erences between the fortifi cations of the Central European region and those from South Eastern Europe.