#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”

“Iuliu Maniu” Memorial House in Bădăcin (Romania)

March 7 – May 10, 2024

On March 7, 2024, the Museum of Victims of Deportations and Political Repressions of the National History Museum of Moldova, in partnership with colleagues from the "Iuliu Maniu" Memorial House in Bădăcin (Sălaj county, Romania) and the County Museum of History and Art - Zalău (Romania), organized a new opening of the photo-documentary exhibition "Childhood in the Gulag" (curator Dr. Ludmila D. Cojocaru). The event took place within the commemorative actions devoted to the Day of Anti-Communist Political Detainees from the period 1944-1989, marked in Romania on March 9.

The exhibition "Childhood in the Gulag" presents photo-documentary images that reflect the life of Bessarabian children condemned to deportation, starvation, Russification, indoctrination and forced separation from their own families based on the repressive policies of the totalitarian-communist regime in the Moldavian SSR, in the period 1940-1941 and 1944-1953. The exhibition brings together about 180 photo-documentary images, accompanied by memories and archival documents from the collections of the National History Museum of Moldova, the Edineț County Museum, the Museum of History and Ethnography in Soroca, the Pro Memory Institute, from the archives of the memory communities, as well as the family archives of the victims of the totalitarian-communist regime in the Moldavian SSR.

The event was attended by Dr. Marin Pop, head of the Museography Section of the County Museum of History and Art - Zalău, Mr. Gheorghe Bancea, sub-prefect of Sălaj County, Mr. Paul Maghiu, administrator of Sălaj County, Dr. Ana-Maria Borz, museographer at the "Iuliu Maniu" Memorial House, and via video - the curator of the exhibition conf. Dr. Ludmila D. Cojocaru, from the Museum of Victims of Deportations and Political Repressions, branch of the National History Museum of Moldova. Among those present at the Opening were school teachers and students from the "Simion Bărnutiu" National College, the "Horia" Secondary School, and the "Silvania" Secondary School from Salaj county.

The exhibition can be visited at the "Iuliu Maniu" Memorial House in Bădăcin, Sălaj county (Romania) until May 10, 2024.

The photo-documentary exhibition "Childhood in the Gulag" was elaborated with the support of "The Development Cooperation and Democracy Promotion Programme" of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania.