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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

The European Night of Museums 2011

14 May 2011

The National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova for the sixth time took part in the European cultural program «Night of Museums». It was open to the public for free on the night of 14 to 15 May from 18:00 to 02:00.
The theme of the event was Memory of Objects - Memory of Town.

In the exhibition rooms some interesting objects were theatrically highlighted. Visitation was accompanied by mechanical and classical music and representations in historical costumes. Multimedia installations in the exhibition spaces have turned the walking through rooms into especial audio visual experience.

Overnight in the museum film library "Clio" there was showing of documentary and historical films.

In the halls at the ground and first floors two workshops of IKEBANA and ORIGAMI operated.

At the same time in the museum court there was organized a reconstruction of old Chisinau (1900-1930), with artisan shops, coffee and tea houses, a drugstore, pottery and blacksmith shops, all intended to illustrate the memory of the town. Thus, the visitors not only came into bygone town atmosphere, but were able to see household items used in the first half of the 20th century.


The night was complemented by a cultural program, which included:
  • Festival of military traditions (students of the "Stefan cel Mare" Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs have presented methods of struggle and mastery of handling various kinds of weapons of different historical periods)
  • Music and dance program with the participation of the Choral Music Studio "Lia-ciocarlia" and Modern Dance Club "Dacia Dans"
  • Demonstration of fencing and sword fighting in armor (supported by the Specialized Fencing Sports School of Olympic Reserve for Children and Youth and members of the Public Association of Fencing Clubs "Ensifer")
  • Music and dance program supported by the Art Studio "Kwantis"
  • Music show with the participation of Natalia Gordienco, Pasha Parfenie, Serj Kuzencoff, Ionel Istrati, Svetlana Dumbrava, and Evdokim.


Every 100th visitor has received a gift - T-shirt "Night of Museum" with the logo of the National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova.

Partners: Department of Culture of the Chisinau City Hall, Cooperative Trade University of Moldova, „Mihai Eminescu" National Theatre, Academy of Music, Theatre, and Fine Arts, Club of Sports and Modern Dance Dacia Dans, Specialized Fencing Sports School of Olympic Reserve for Children and Youth.

Media Pertners: Kiss FM, Publica TV, Noroc TV, Panonimedia, allmoldovaallfun



 

 


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