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#Exhibit of the Month

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The artifact is a battle axe made from magmatic rock (diabase) of gray-brown color. It was accidentally discovered in 1966 within the territory of Aluniș village, Rîșcani district. Based on its morphological characteristics, the artifact can be attributed to the Catacomb culture (29th-22nd centuries BCE).

The axe features a massive, elongated naviform body with slightly pronounced shoulders, a short and narrow edge that is flat and circular in cross-section. The blade is slightly curved. The hole was drilled in the maximum width of the object. It is circular in shape with a diameter of 2.2 cm. The surface of the artifact is meticulously polished, worked with great care, and shows no signs of damage or chipping.

Dimensions: Length: 20.0 cm; Maximum width: 8.4 cm; Edge diameter: 5.0 cm; Blade width: 7.0 cm; Weight: 2.3 kg.

Stone battle axes are characteristic of the Catacomb culture communities and are most often found as grave goods, deposited in tombs. Their presence in funerary complexes suggests a multifaceted functionality: weapons, social symbols, and ritual objects. Initially used as weapons, the axes became social symbols for their owners, later acquiring votive significance when deposited in tombs to serve the deceased in the afterlife.

The social symbolic function of stone battle axes is indicated by the high-quality rocks used for their manufacture and the exceptionally meticulous craftsmanship. The large dimensions of the axe from Aluniș support this hypothesis and distinguish it from other examples.

The discovery of stone battle axes outside a funerary complex may indicate their votive deposition. It is difficult to imagine that these exceptionally well-crafted pieces, made from high-quality rocks transported over great distances, could have been abandoned or lost accidentally. It is far more likely that they were deposited for magical-religious purposes, a possibility that may also apply to the stone axe discovered at Aluniș.

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Exhibitions




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„Medieval torture instruments” 

10 February - 31 May 2018
 From 10 February to 31 May 2018, the National Museum of History of Moldova hosts an international exhibition of medieval torture instruments organized by ARANEUS Society from Poland...


National Museum of History of Moldova, 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
„Polish Scouting and Guiding Association in the International Scouts' Family" 

February 1-18, 2018
The National Museum of History of Moldova and the Polish Institute of Bucharest opened on February 1st, 2018 the exhibition „Polish Scouting and Guiding Association in the International Scouts' Family"...


National Museum of History of Moldova, 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
„Monuments, Fortresses and Monasteries” 

15-31 January 2018
 The photo exhibition "Monuments, Fortresses and Monasteries", whose author is Andrei Viziru, is organized during the National Culture Day...


National Museum of History of Moldova, 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
„Christmas Memories” 

20 December, 2017 – 14 January, 2018
 The exhibition "Christmas Memories" recreates the magical atmosphere of the holidays, as it was during the 20th century. The objects from the museum collection invite the visitors to step into the atmosphere of the Christmas holiday from the past when Moș Crăciun (Santa Claus) was then called Moș Gerilă...


National Museum of History of Moldova, 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
„Sweden, from A to Ö” 

December 12 and 18, 2017
 The National Museum of History of Moldova and the Embassy of Sweden to the Republic of Moldova is pleased to announce the exhibition „Sweden, from A to Ö" which will be presenting the Swedish alphabet in an attractive visual and amusing way...


National Museum of History of Moldova, 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
“Sfatul Ţării. 100 years since the foundation” 

November 16 - December 10, 2017
The National Museum of History of Moldova invites you to visit the exhibition "Sfatul Ţării. 100 years since the foundation" opened in the 2nd floor hall of the museum...


National Museum of History of Moldova, 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
„Tadeusz Kościuszko - the Price of Freedom” 

November 1-15, 2017
The National Museum of History of Moldova and the Polish Institute in Bucharest invite you to the photo exhibition "Tadeusz Kościuszko - the Price of Freedom", which was opened on November 1, 2017 in the lobby of the museum...


National Museum of History of Moldova, 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
„UNDER THE ALIEN SKIES: Lithuanian people in Soviet hard labor camps and exile in 1940-1958” 

October 17-31, 2017
On Tuesday, September 17th, 2017, at 15:00 hours, at the National Museum of History of Moldova was opened the exhibition „UNDER THE ALIEN SKIES: Lithuanian people in Soviet hard labor camps and exile in 1940-1958". The exhibition is organized by the Museum of Genocide Victims from the Genocide and Resistance Research Centre of Lithuania...


National Museum of History of Moldova, 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
„Born Free” 

October 5-15, 2017
The photographic exhibition "Born Free" was opened on the upper lobby of the National Museum of History of Moldova in the framework of the events from the agenda of the 13th World Meeting of Bulgarian Media which took place in the Republic of Moldova between October 4 and 8...


National Museum of History of Moldova, 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
Participation at the International Specialized Exhibition „Security”, 16th edition  

September 21-24, 2017
The National Museum of History of Moldova participated with a stand at the International Specialized Exhibition of technologies, security and protection means "Security", organized from 21 till 24 September at the International Exhibition Center "Moldexpo"...


National Museum of History of Moldova, 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
„Millennia of civilizations at Orheiul Vechi. 70 years of archaeological research” 

21 September 2017 - 31 December 2018
The National Museum of History of Moldova opened on 21 September the exhibition "Millennia of civilization at Orheiul Vechi. 70 years of archaeological research". The event  is organized as part of the European Heritage Days...


National Museum of History of Moldova, 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
„War and Humanitarian Action: the Lessons of History” 

From the International Committee of the Red Cross Photo Archives, the TASS News Agency, the State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia, and The National Museum of History of Moldova

14 September 2017 – 28 January 2018
The National Museum of History of Moldova and the Interregional Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Moscow (for the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Moldova) are organizing the exhibition "War and Humanitarian Action: the Lessons of History" from 14 September to 14 October 2017...


National Museum of History of Moldova, 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
“Railway line BENDER (TIGHINA) – GALAŢI 140 years from opening: July 27 – November 4, 1877” 

July 27 - September 10, 2017
The National Museum of History of Moldova opened a photo exhibition dedicated to the construction of the Bender - Galați railway line, celebrating an important anniversary moment in the history of the Moldovan railways...


National Museum of History of Moldova, 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
„My name is Floricica” 

May 30 – October 3, 2017
The National Museum of History of Moldova opened on Tuesday, May 30, 2017, the thematic exhibition „My name is Floricica", organized on the occasion of the 50th anniversary from the creation of the world's first animation film studio...


National Museum of History of Moldova, 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
„The clock over time” 

May 18, 2017 – May 18, 2018
The exhibition is the result of research of the collection of watches from the National Museum of History of Moldova. The 150 watches displayed in the exhibition for the public reveal the evolution of the means of measuring time and of their makers as this activity was a constant concern and passion of man since Antiquity...


National Museum of History of Moldova, 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
„Scale Models Expo Chișinău 2017” 

May 7 - June 10, 2017
On Sunday, May 7th, at the National Museum of History of Moldova, was opened for the large public the exhibition of static models "SCALE MODELS EXPO CHISINAU 2017"...


National Museum of History of Moldova, 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
„Ion Hâncu. Man. Personality. Scholar” 

April 20 - May 17, 2017
On the occasion of the International Day of Monuments and Sites, the National Museum of History of Moldova opened on April 20, 2017, an exhibition dedicated to scientist Ion Hâncu...


National Museum of History of Moldova, 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
"Light from Light" 

April 4th – June 4th, 2017
The exhibition "Light from Light", opened at the Museum of History and Ethnography from Soroca, brings together 23 icons from the collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova devoted to Jesus Christ...


National Museum of History of Moldova, 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova

 



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#Exhibit of the Month

The artifact is a battle axe made from magmatic rock (diabase) of gray-brown color. It was accidentally discovered in 1966 within the territory of Aluniș village, Rîșcani district. Based on its morphological characteristics, the artifact can be attributed to the Catacomb culture (29th-22nd centuries BCE)...

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The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
©2006-2025 National Museum of History of Moldova
Visit museum 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
Phones:
Secretariat: +373 (22) 24-43-25
Department of Public Relations and Museum Education: +373 (22) 24-04-26
Fax: +373 (22) 24-43-69
E-mail: office@nationalmuseum.md
Technical Support: info@nationalmuseum.md
Web site administration and maintenance: Andrei EMILCIUC

 



The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
©2006-2025 National Museum of History of Moldova
Visit museum 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
Phones:
Secretariat: +373 (22) 24-43-25
Department of Public Relations and Museum Education: +373 (22) 24-04-26
Fax: +373 (22) 24-43-69
E-mail: office@nationalmuseum.md
Technical Support: info@nationalmuseum.md
Web site administration and maintenance: Andrei EMILCIUC

menu
The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
©2006-2025 National Museum of History of Moldova
Visit museum 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
Phones:
Secretariat: +373 (22) 24-43-25
Department of Public Relations and Museum Education: +373 (22) 24-04-26
Fax: +373 (22) 24-43-69
E-mail: office@nationalmuseum.md
Technical Support: info@nationalmuseum.md
Web site administration and maintenance: Andrei EMILCIUC