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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

”Ukraine: The Art of the Unyielding / Україна: Мистецтво Нескорених”

April 2–18, 2025

The National Museum of History of Moldova, in partnership with the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Moldova, is organizing the exhibition "Ukraine: The Art of the Unyielding" / „Україна: Мистецтво Нескорених." This exhibition features a diverse range of decorative art, including handcrafted jewelry made of natural stone, symbolic traditional crowns, and ethnic accessories that highlight Ukrainian identity.

The exhibition showcases three distinctive collections. The first, "The Legacy of Generations. Revival" / „Спадок поколінь. Відродження", includes 20 necklaces made from natural stone and adorned with hand-cast beads of brass, bronze, and copper. The designer, Svitlana Golovchuk, hails from the Carpathian Mountains. Her creations are inspired by the culture and history of her family, reflecting patriotism and traditions passed down through generations.

The second collection, "I Will Weave a Crown, I Will Weave a Silk Crown" / „Заплету віночок, заплету шовковий", features crowns made of dried flowers, with each flower carrying a symbolic meaning. The author, Mîhailova Vilena, is a fashion designer and founder of several creative organizations. These crowns are a modern reinterpretation of a traditional Ukrainian element.

The third collection, "Symbol of Ukraine" / „Символ України", showcases crowns made of satin ribbons, created by Larisa Davîdenko, a designer and educator. Her pieces blend traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design.

The exhibition is organized by the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Moldova along with partners: the Association of Ukrainian Culture and Art in Moldova "Ptashka," the NGO "International Impact Center," and the NGO "International Institute of Women's Popular Diplomacy of Ukraine."

This exhibition is not only an opportunity to admire the beauty of artistic creations but also to support Ukrainian art.

"Ukraine: The Art of the Unyielding" / „Україна: Мистецтво Нескорених" can be visited between April 2-18, 2025, with the opening ceremony taking place on April 2, 2025, at 2:00 PM in the ground floor lobby of the National Museum of History of Moldova, Chișinău, 31 August 1989 Street, 121A.


 




Independent Moldova
Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic
Bessarabia and MASSR between the Two World Wars
Bessarabia and Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic in the Period between the Two World Wars
Revival of National Movement
Time of Reforms and their Consequences
Abolition of Autonomy. Bessarabia – a New Tsarist Colony
Period of Relative Autonomy of Bessarabia within the Russian Empire
Phanariot Regime
Golden Age of the Romanian Culture
Struggle for Maintaining of Independence of Moldova
Formation of Independent Medieval State of Moldova
Era of the
Great Nomad Migrations
Early Middle Ages
Iron Age and Antiquity
Bronze Age
Aeneolithic Age
Neolithic Age
Palaeolithic Age
  
  

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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

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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