#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

Japanese-style ancestral tradition

2 March 2019

The Mărțișor, celebrated each year in the early days of March, symbolizes the renaissance and the arrival of the spring and makes us feel the energy of a new beginning.

At the National Museum of History of Moldova this event was marked on March 2 by the „Japanese-style ancestral tradition" event organized by the Public Relations Department, Museum Education (coordinator: Natalia Popovici) in collaboration with the Youth Station of the Young Tourists from Chișinău municipality and Origami Center Moldova.

The cultural and educational event has provoked students to engage affectionately and effectively in the making of Japanese-style Mărțișor, to learn customs, traditions and legends related to the feast of the Mărţişor, which reminds us of the important role that small objects have and which were considered true talismans for luck and health.

The event began with a show of music, poetry and dance, followed by a workshop where students were encouraged to make origami Mărțișor. The activity has been a real success: the useful and the pleasure were harmoniously combined, while the creative thinking of participants was stimulated through play, learning and work. At the end of this meeting, dozens of Mărțișor-cranes took their flight, together with their creators, to the dear beings they were destined to...

The handcrafted Mărțișor brought the spring in the museum and gave everyone the feeling of rebirth, of beauty and of love.