#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.

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Events Archive

DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR VICTIMS OF STALINISM

July 5-6, 2022

From July 5 to July 6, 2022, a series of events dedicated to July 6, the Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism, was held at the National Museum of History of Moldova.

On July 5, 2022, the Scientific-Practical Conference "Memory of Stalinist deportations and repressions: practices, problems and prospects of museum exploration" took place. The event brought together representatives of the museum community, along with historians, anthropologists, philologists and lawyers concerned with museumification the memory of Stalinist deportations and repressions from the perspective of responsibilities, roles and challenges facing museums in presenting the totalitarian-communist past of the Moldavian SSR.

On July 6, 2022, in the Blue Room of the National Museum of History of Moldova, a memorial event "Gulag Stories" was held with the participation of victims of deportations and political repressions, representatives of the younger generation, the media and civil society. The opening event was attended by the Consul of the Republic of Lithuania in the Republic of Moldova, Egle Broznelene, who spoke about bilateral projects implemented in the field of recovery and historical development of the memory of the victims of the totalitarian-communist regime and joint activities to form a European culture of memory.

As part of the commemorative events, the presentation of the animated short film "Mâța Fără Nume" took place. The film was made by Ghenadie Popescu based on the testimonies of survivors of the Stalinist repressions and is dedicated to the memory of the victims of deportation from the Moldavian SSR. The project was supported by the National Center for Cinematography in cooperation with the National Museum of History of Moldova, the Impact-Plus Production House and the HomoDiversus Association.

The commemorative actions were accompanied by the opening of the photo-documentary exhibition "Testimonies from the Gulag. Memory of the victims of the totalitarian-communist regime". The exhibition was elaborated by Virgiuliu Bîrlădeanu, Ludmila D. Cojocaru, Elena Postică and others within the project "Memory culture for societies in the process of democratic transformation: promoting good practices between Lithuania and the Republic of Moldova", with the support of the Program for the Promotion of Democracy and Cooperation for Development of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania.

The exhibition can be visited until July 25, 2022.