#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

“CHILDHOOD IN THE GULAG”

Drochia Museum of History, Ethnography and Art

April 1 – 27, 2022

The Museum of Victims of Deportations and Political Repressions (a branch of the National Museum of History of Moldova) in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania organized on April 1, 2022, at 14:00, the opening of the photo-documentary exhibition "Childhood in the Gulag" at the Museum of History, Ethnography and Art in Drochia (16 Strugurilor Street), with on-site and online presence.

The exhibition brings together about 180 photo-documentary images, accompanied by memoirs and archival documents from the collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova, the Edineț Regional Museum, the Soroca Museum of History and Ethnography, the Archive of the ProMemoria Institute, archives of memory societies from the villages of the Republic of Moldova and especially from the family archives of the victims of the totalitarian-communist regime in the Moldavian SSR.

H.E. Kęstutis Kudzmanas, the Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to Chișinău made a welcoming speech at the opening of the exhibition. Ms. Rodica Lozovan, the representative of the Culture, Tourism, Youth and Sports Directorate spoke on behalf of the local authorities. Mr. Dumitru Postovan on behalf of the Drochia Museum of History, Ethnography and Art addressed all participants with the invitation to visit the exhibition from April 1 to 27. Dr. Ludmila Cojocaru, Head of the Museum of Victims of Deportations and Political Repressions, presented to the audience the concept and the main compartments of the photo-documentary exhibition.

The exhibition was accompanied by a round table moderated by Dr. Virgiliu Bîrlădeanu, Head of the Modern History Department at the Institute of History. The round table was attended by representatives of regional museums, students of the Alecu Russo State University Bălți and the State University of Moldova, as well as victims of deportations and political repressions in the Moldavian SSR.

The event ended with a classical music concert in memory of the victims of Stalinist deportations and repressions, as well as the recent child victims of the war in Ukraine.

The photo-documentary exhibition "Childhood in the Gulag" is realized within the Project "Strengthening the European culture of memory by disseminating historical knowledge and promoting democratic values: exchange and implementation of the best practices between Lithuania and the Republic of Moldova" (VB52-1), with the support of The Development Cooperation and Democracy Promotion Program of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania.