#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

„The scientist Ovidiu Bădina: memory and value”

November 23 – December 23, 2022

On November 23, 2022, in the upstairs hall of the National Museum of History of Moldova, was inaugurated the exhibition „The scientist Ovidiu Bădina: memory and value".

This monographic exhibition is dedicated to a prominent personality in the field of research and education - the scientist, university professor Ovidiu Bădina (1932-1999).

The exhibition project marks the 90th anniversary of the scientist's birth, and the theme of the approach addresses the scientific and didactic activity as a university professor at the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest and Chisinau, the sociological research carried out in the Republic of Moldova, including the monographic research of the village Cornova, the relations of professor Ovidiu Bădina with the representatives of some state and private institutions.

The exhibition displays documents, photos, books, personal objects of the teacher, which come from the museum collection, from private collections, a large part of the exhibits being presented to the public for the first time. Visitors have the opportunity - through the exhibited materials - to know important data from the scholar's biography, to discover in the exhibition original, memorial objects that belonged to Professor Ovidiu Bădina, to obtain new information about the beginning of sociological research in the Republic of Moldova, initiated by the professor Ovidiu Badina.

In Chisinau, together with Paul Braun, he contributes to the creation of the Academy of Economic Studies from the Republic of Moldova. He established the National Institute of Sociology in Chisinau, and as the director of this institution he organized and conducted numerous sociological researches in various fields of the economy, investigated and analyzed various social and political phenomena in the republic, elaborating measures for practical actions.

The exhibition „The scientist Ovidiu Bădina: memory and value" can be visited in the upstairs hall of the National Museum of History of Moldova between November 23 - December 23, 2022.