#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).

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.

Virtual Tour

Exhibitions

„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".

The exhibition consists of 30 stands made by the Museum of Scouting ZHP in Warsaw at the initiative of the Polish Institute in Bucharest. It is part of a series of cultural events marking in 2018 the 100th anniversary of the National Revival of Poland.

The exhibition „Polish Scouting and Guiding Association in the International Scouts' Family" introduces to the Moldovan public the traditions of the Polish scouting, its beginnings and the founding personalities of the organization.

The authors of the exhibition focused on the participation of the scouts at important events for Poland's history and independence, on the relationship between Polish scouts and scouts in other countries. The exhibition displays heroic stories, friendships made during jamborees organized in different countries, the continued desire for the recovery of freedom and peace, the recognition of independent Poland at international level, the care for tradition, as well as, or perhaps first of all, the play and the good will that accompany scouting activities and educational importance of this movement.

Among other things, the exhibition teaches us about the influence of scouting education on many generations of Polish young people, based on values such as patriotism, friendship, service to others, faith, hard work, fairness, freedom and peace.

The exhibition can be visited at the National Museum of History of Moldova between February 1 and 18, 2018.