#Exhibit of the Month

The exhibit of the month for November is a rare glass goblet from the Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov cemetery, discovered in Tigheci. Dated to the second half of the 4th century AD, this remarkable artifact demonstrates the craftsmanship of the time, made from translucent greenish glass with a truncated cone shape and intricate geometric decoration. The goblet features three rows of hexagonal facets, framed by incised lines, and a row of elongated ovals under the rim, characteristics which classify it within Series VII A, according to E. Straume's classification. These ornamental traits hint at artistic influences from various regions and indicate the spread of technologies and ideas within the Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov culture.

Archaeological Context of the Discovery

The Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov cemetery at Tigheci is located in a historically complex area, positioned on the northwest slope of the Tigheci River, at the "La Lutărie" point. First identified in the 1980s following unauthorized clay extraction, the cemetery has suffered considerable damage, leading to the loss of valuable artifacts and the destruction of graves. Among the objects recovered by Mr. Ion Pușcașu, founder of the Museum of History and Ethnography in Tigheci, are wheel-thrown ceramic items reflecting the traditions and techniques of communities during the Migration Period.

The site was first archaeologically investigated in 1990, when a complete inhumation grave was found, though lacking any inventory. Subsequent surveys in 2013 and 2015 by the National Archaeological Agency revealed ongoing erosion damaging the cemetery, necessitating a rescue excavation in 2017. This campaign documented and investigated five graves from the Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov culture, including the skeletal remains of a male individual estimated to have been 40 to 45 years old at the time of death, offering additional insights into the demographic structure of this community.

Cultural Significance and Comparisons

The hexagonally faceted glass goblet is among the most valuable artifacts from the Tigheci cemetery. Similar goblets are characteristic of the Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov culture and have been found in notable sites such as Târgșor and Bârlad-Valea Seacă (Romania) and Gavrilovka, Ranjevoe (Ukraine), reflecting the cultural and trade connections of this community with other centers of influence in Late Antiquity. Ancient texts and cultural parallels suggest a complex interaction zone with Hellenistic and Roman influences, reflected in luxury goods production such as this glass goblet.

Virtual Tour

Exhibitions

"A mapping of old estates"

May 18th - July 15, 2011

The exhibition is organized on the occasion of the 195th anniversary from the time of creation of the Bessarabian Topographic Commission headed by Colonel S.I. Kornilovich (1816) and covers the chronological period from the late 18^th century to the first half of the 19^th century.

The main exhibits are maps of estates kept in the collection of the National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova. The content of the exhibition is divided into four sections:

Forms of ownership: large and small land property;
Land surveyors: land relations intermediaries;
Land relations: agrarian reforms, sale, purchase, lease, and inheritance of land;
The fate of old estates: collectivization and dispossession.

Stages of development of the forms of land property in the time under review are presented chronologically, highlighting the main stages, and thematically, in accordance with the sections listed above. In addition to the maps, there were used auxiliary exhibits meant to create a historical background of the exhibition. Among these objects there are documents (titles, the manifesto of church lands and the Emancipation Manifesto of February 19, 1861, deeds of sale, lease, and tax), postcards, models of estates, books and magazines of the time with information on land relations, photographs and personal belongings of land surveyors.

The exhibition is concluded by the section "The fate of old estates: collectivization and dispossession", which includes items that refer to sovietization of land relationship (photographs and documents).

#Exhibit of the Month

Glass Goblet from the Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov Cemetery (4th Century AD) in Tigheci

"A mapping of old estates"

May 18th - July 15, 2011

#Exhibit of the Month