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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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Events Archive

Europe Days at the National History Museum of Moldova

May 7-10, 2024

The National Museum of History of Moldova hosted a series of film screenings during the Europe Days celebration. The event, held between 7-10 May 2024, offered the audience the opportunity to explore various aspects of European culture and history through exceptional films.

During the four days, the Museum ran a varied selection of films, which captivated attention and stimulated cultural dialogue. Here are the featured titles:

May 7, 2024, 12:00 p.m. - "MALURI"

The documentary film "MALURI", provided by the EU program "Confidence-Building Measures", was an inspired starting point for the event. Produced by Telefilm Chisinau and directed by Lucia Tăut, this film brought together dozens of actors from both banks of the Prut and told the history of the villages of Rașcov and Vadul-Rașcov, which hosted the largest Jewish fair in Moldova. The documentary was awarded for "Best Documentary" and "Best Cinematography".
May 8, 2024, 12:00 p.m. - "A VILLAGE DEFENDS ITSELF"
A captivating drama offered by the Austrian Embassy in the Republic of Moldova, directed by Gabriela Zerhau, captured the last days of the Second World War. The film received the award for best televised film and told the courageous story of villagers who defied Gauleiter Eigruber's orders to destroy a salt mine that housed stolen art treasures.
May 8, 2024, 2 p.m. - "HALLSTATT - A LIFE BETWEEN THE ROCKS AND THE LAKE"
An exciting documentary film, also provided by the Austrian Embassy, presented the Austrian region of Hallstatt-Dachstein in a captivating light. Directed by Wolfgang Thaler, this film provided viewers with spectacular landscapes, crystal clear lakes and a foray into the fascinating history of the region.
May 10, 2024, 12:00 p.m. - "IN THE NAME OF THE EARTH"
The Polish Institute in Bucharest offered the audience an impressive historical drama, adapted from the novel "The Peasants" by Władysław Reymont. Directed by DK Welchman and Hugh Welchman, this animation-drama film gained attention through the story of the beautiful Jagna and her struggle for love and freedom in a community torn apart by feuds and land battles.


The event represented a wonderful opportunity to celebrate cultural diversity and highlight the close ties between the Republic of Moldova and European countries. The National History Museum of Moldova thanks its partners and participants for their support and involvement.



 

 


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