#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

International relations

In the spirit of development and expansion of cooperation in scientific research and promotion of cultural heritage, between the National Museum of History of Moldova and similar institutions in other countries there were concluded the following agreements:

Agreement of scientific cooperation between the National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova (Chisinau, Republic of Moldova) and Eurasien Abteilung des Deutschen Archeologichen Institutes (Berlin, Germany), March 23, 2007
Agreement of cooperation between the Institute of Archaeology, Iași, from the structure of the Romanian Academy, and the National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova, from the structure of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, April 11, 2007
Agreement of cooperation between the National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova and the Odessa Museum of Archaeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, April 12, 2007
Agreement of partnership between the District Museum of Mures (Romania), the Department of History, and the National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova, May 4, 2007
Agreement of partnership between the National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova and the Museum of History of Transylvania (Cluj-Napoca, Romania) the District Museum Complex of Neamt (Piatra-Neamt, Romania), the National Museum of the Eastern Carpathians (Sfantu Gheorghe, Romania), May 14, 2007
Agreement of museum and scientific collaboration between the National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova (Chisinau, Republic of Moldova) and the National Museum Complex “Moldova” (Iasi, Romania), February 4, 2008
Agreement of collaboration between the National Museum of History of Ukraine and the National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova, October 17, 2008
Agreement of collaboration between the National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova and the National Museum of History of Romania, October 20, 2008
Record of collaboration between the National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova (Chisinau, Republic of Moldova) and the Commercial and Cultural Centre GEOPAN (Burgas, Bulgaria), November 7, 2008
Agreement of museum and scientific collaboration between the National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova (Chisinau, Republic of Moldova) and the Museum “Vasile Parvan” (Barlad, Romania), December 1, 2008
Agreement of collaboration between the Institute of Archaeology “Vasile Parvan” from the structure of the Romanian Academy and the National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova from the structure of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, December 10, 2008
Agreement of collaboration between the National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova and the Institute of Material Culture of the Academy of Sciences of Russia, December 1, 2008
Agreement of collaboration between the National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova and Museum Europischer Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Germany, January 10, 2009Collaboration agreement between the Institute of Archaeology „Vasile Pârvan" from the structure of the Romanian Academy and the National Museum of History of Moldova, signed on November 12th, 2012. The agreement provides for the organization of research programmers with topics of common interest
Collaboration agreement signed between the National Museum of History of Moldova and the County Museum „Ştefan cel Mare", Vaslui (Romania), on December 4th, 2012. The object of the agreement is inter-museum cooperation with the aim to make more effective the activities of research and promotion of cultural heritage
Collaboration agreement signed between the National Museum of History of Moldova and the Museum of National History and Archaeology from Constanța (Romania), on October 7th, 2013. The agreement provides for the organization of some common activities, mutually beneficial, in fields of scientific research and museology
Collaboration agreement between the German Institute of Archaeology (Berlin) and the National Museum of History of Moldova regarding the common publication of archaeological research results, signed on November 4th, 2013
Collaboration agreement signed between the National Museum of History of Moldova and the Cultural-Historic and Natural Reserve „Kiev-Pechersk", Ukraine, regarding research and valorization of cultural heritage, January 15, 2014
Collaboration agreement between the National Museum of History of Moldova and the Museum of Archaeology from Odessa, Ukraine, regarding archaeological research and participation at scientific events, June 27, 2014
Collaboration agreement between the National Museum of History from Moldova and the Museum of Ethnography from Saint Petersburg, Russia, regarding research of ethnographic heritage collections and publication of volume „Bulgarians", 2015
Collaboration agreement between the National Museum of History of Moldova and the Museum of Archaeology from Batumi, Georgia, February 26, 2015. The agreement provides for participation in common research and scientific events
Collaboration agreement with the Institute of Archaeology „Vasile Pârvan" from the Romanian Academy, regarding scientific research, organization of common scientific events and exchange of publications, March 31, 2015
Loan contract signed between the National Museum of History of Moldova and the National Museum Complex „Moldova" from Iași, Romania, regarding the organization of temporary exhibition „Heritage values from the collections of the Museum of Science and Technique Ștefan Procopiu", July 25, 2015
Collaboration agreement between the National Museum of History of Moldova and the Czech Center from Bucharest regarding the organization of the temporary exhibition „Portrait of Václav Havel" in Chișinău, December 7, 2015
Contract for submission signed between the National Museum of History of Moldova and Herendi Porcelánmanufaktúra Zrt., Hungary, regarding the organization of exhibition „Herend Glow", April 29, 2016
Partnership contract between the National Museum of History of Moldova and the Polish Institute from Bucharest regarding the organization of exhibition „War in Polish poster. Krzysztof Dydo Collection", May 20, 2016
Collaboration Agreement between the National Museum of History of Moldova and the Academy of Science of Republic of Tatarstan regarding archaeological research and exchange of publications, June 2, 2016
Collaboration agreement with Sachsen-Anhalt Land and Prehistoric Museum from Halle, Germany, regarding participation in common archaeological research projects, June 6, 2016
Agreement of cooperation between the National Museum of History of Moldova and "Stefan cel Mare" University of Suceava, Romania, 08.04.2019
Agreement of cooperation between the National Museum of History of Moldova and the Bucharest Museum, 13.03.2019
Partnership Agreement between the National Museum of History of Moldova and the Țării Crișurilor Museum - Museum Complex, November 3, 2022