#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

“In the World of Toys”

(December 16, 2010 - February 16, 2011)

The exhibition entitled “In the World of Toys” brings together over 300 objects dated from the 4th millennium B.C. to 2010, for the most part from private collections. The exhibits were selected by the criteria of exceptional state of conservation, intrinsic value, and uniqueness. The work in collaboration with the State University, Teleradio Moldova Studio, and collectors from the Republic of Moldova and Romania revealed extremely interesting items in terms of science, esthetics, and origin.

The history of toys evidently is as old as the history of human world. The oldest toys were made of materials found in nature, such as wood and clay. So, the exhibition presents an ensemble of figurative objects: rattles of the 4th millennium B.C. (National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova), anthropomorphic figurines dated from the 4th century B.C. (Museum of Antiquities of the State University of Moldova), zoomorphic figurines and miniature vessels of the 9th-10th centuries A.D. (National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova). The exhibition is continued with wooden toys (Ion Podaru’s collection), ceramic whistles (Iurie Caminschi’s collection), wooden pipes (Grigore Posternac’s collection), dolls of straw and corn husk (collections of Natalia Cangea and Vera Muzlaeva).

Another category of toys, which gives a shade of elegance to the exhibition, consists of dolls of papier-mâché and porcelain made in France, Germany and USA. Of particular interest is a doll of papier-mâché and porcelain made in France in 1860 (Mihai Ciocanu’s collection). The exhibition also includes dolls made of porcelain in 1920, 1960-90 (Galina Kharzhevskaya’s collection).

The next part of the exhibition brings together plastic, celluloid, and rubber dolls made in Germany (1960-1990) and USSR (1950-1990). The most interesting are toys produced by the Durlesti Dolls Factory, the only enterprise of this kind in the territory of the Republic of Moldova during 1960-1990.

A special group of exhibits consists of the toys for boys: tin soldiers (Emma Azina’s collection), toy cars (collections of Sergiu Gutu and Iurie Revenco), and toy trains (Victor Tocmacov’s collection).

On display there are also puppets of the Prichindel TV Puppet-show and the Guguta Municipal Puppet-show. The exhibition is complemented with works of the Origami Center Moldova, illustrated postcards and photographs from the collections of the National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova, the Nina Djos’s collection of dolls in national costumes, and teddy bears (Tatiana Sukhoparenko’s collection).

The exhibition ends with a group of contemporary toys, such as the dolls of Cleopatra (Valentina Anton’s collection), Bratz, and Barbie, the Disney characters. The exhibition will be open to the public from December 16, 2010 to February 16, 2011.

#Exhibit of the Month

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

“In the World of Toys”

(December 16, 2010 - February 16, 2011)

#Exhibit of the Month