#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

“Promoters of National Identity and Values”

August 27 - September 30, 2022

On August 27, 1991, history gave us a chance - the chance to become free. And the Bessarabian Romanians proved by deed that they want to be masters of their own destiny. For them, independence in those days was identified with the exit from the darkness of the Soviet empire and the hope for a prosperous future. The will of hundreds of thousands of people gathered in the Great National Assembly Square in Chisinau won. The Bessarabian Romanians won the great battle for the tricolor, for the state language and the Latin script, they returned to national traditions and values, they regained their right to history. Three decades have passed since then. Three decades of aspirations and accomplishments, of uncertainties and achievements. And even if today we have enough reasons to be sad, if we are not rich and not as free as we would like, we still have enough reasons to be proud of our country and its people, of the progress made on the path of democratization and modernization.

All the best and most noble things that the citizens of the Republic of Moldova have done during the three decades of independence have been done under the mobilizing sign of the tricolor, of values and ideals inherited from their ancestors. Proof of this are more than 70 pieces presented at the exhibition "Promoters of National Identity and Values" organized by the National Museum of History of Moldova in cooperation with the public organization "Șezătoarea Basarabiei" ("Bessarabia Gatherings"). The exhibition brings together a series of photographs and ethnographic objects (traditional shirts, scarves, belts, and so on) from the collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova and photographs of traditional shirts for women, men and children, made by members of the "Șezătoarea Basarabiei" community, which brings together people of different professions - teachers, engineers, accountants, economists, doctors, journalists, artists, researchers - who are in love with the traditional Romanian costume, active promoters of national identity and values.

Folk costume is one of the defining elements of national culture, a landmark and an emblem of national identity. Regardless of whether they are presented in a classical style and preserved or taken up and reinterpreted, the symbols of folk clothes are always current.

The exhibition "Promoters of National Identity and Values" can be visited from 27 August to 30 September, in the upstairs hall of the NMHM (31 August 1989 street, nr. 121 A).