#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

„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.

The exhibition reflects the special work carried out by the International Committee of the Red Cross to help those in distress from the beginning to World War Two. Those over 50 photographic images taken from the archives of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the TASS news agency, the State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia and the National Museum of History of Moldova, are documentary testimonies of tragic moments that marked the history of the 19th and 20th centuries: Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878, Hispanic-American War of 1898, World War One, Greek-Turkish War of 1919-1922, World War Two. The photographs included in the exhibition show not only the cruelty, the brutality, the pain and the suffering - parts inherent to any war - but, in particular, examples of authentic humanitarian, condescending, compassionate and sacrificial actions shown by the staff of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Russian and Soviet Red Cross, the Red Cross in Bessarabia, the volunteers of the entire Red Cross Movement to alleviate the suffering of the most vulnerable people.

The central idea of the exhibition is that the criminal code of war often left the place for the human code during military conflicts. Beyond hate, violence and death, many testimonies make us discover that it always existed to a greater or lesser extent compassion, help, mercy, and pacifism.

The opening of the exhibition took place on September 14, 2017, at 15:00, on the ground floor of the National Museum of History of Moldova.