#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).

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

Inauguration of Chinese Clothing Culture Exhibition "Dialogue in Space and Time"

May 18, 2024

On the International Day of Museums, on May 18, at the National Museum of History of Moldova, the inauguration of the exhibition of Chinese clothing culture "Dialogue in space and time" took place. The event was organized in partnership with the Chinese Embassy in the Republic of Moldova and brought to the fore a unique collection for our country, offering visitors a fascinating foray into the evolution of the history of Chinese clothing.

During the opening ceremony, the General Director of the National Museum of History of Moldova, Mr. Eugen Sava, H.E. The Chinese Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, Mr. Yan Wenbin, and the General Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Mrs. Ana Varzari. Each of them emphasized the importance of this exhibition in promoting cultural exchanges and enriching the public's knowledge of China's cultural diversity.

The exhibition "Dialogue in space and time" is structured in two distinct sections: historical and ethnic. The first part illustrates the evolution of clothing in China from the 14th century, covering the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1912) dynasties, to the modern era. In the second section, traditional clothing items of China's Miao, Tibetan and Uyghur peoples are presented, highlighting China's ethnic diversity and cultural richness.

The exhibition can be visited between May 18 and June 21, 2024, in Room no. 1 of the National History Museum of Moldova, located on 31 August 1989 street, no. 121A, Chisinau.

Exhibition curators: Yifeng Song (Embassy of China in the Republic of Moldova) and Sorin Şclearuc (National Museum of History of Moldova).

General partner of the exhibition: Aridon Group