#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

The European Night of Museums 2012

19 May 2012

National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova for the seventh time has participated in the Night of Museums, a successful event initiated by the Ministry of Culture and Communication of France and carried out in Europe already for the eighth time. The museum was opened to the public from 18:00 to 02:00, access was free. The event was attended by 8516 people.

The night event included:

1. Visiting of exhibitions. The cultural rendezvous was accompanied by alternative activities:

Screening of mini-films presenting the museum collections
Recital of the string quartet of the Academy of Music, Theatre, and Fine Arts (artistic director A. Molodojan)
Piano music performed by the students of the Academy of Music, Theatre, and Fine Arts
Parade of historical characters
Torchlight procession. Fighting of warriors in armor (Club of Historical Fencing an Reconstruction „Ensifer", director Mikhail Tereshchenko)

2. Interactive presentations of enigmatic objects in the permanent exhibition. Under the title "Unsolved Mysteries" there were presented a number of strange, unexplained objects from the museum collection (a "scepter" of the Late Bronze Age (end of the 2^nd millennium B.C.) found in the hoard at Lozova; binocular vessels of the middle period of Cucuteni-Tripolye Culture (end of the 5^th - beginning of the 3^rd millennia B.C.); miniature clay figurines of the 8^th - 10^th centuries found at Durlești), which practical use, generic functions or exact origin have not been clarified until now; there are only certain assumptions and hypotheses. Visitors were invited to explain the origin or functionality of these artifacts. In this interactive activity 144 people were involved. The most interesting of the assumptions will be awarded by the museum and will be a subject to an article.

3. Mini-exhibitions under the title „An Exhibit Story". There were presented to the public the album „History of the Bender-Galati Railway Section", an icon of the Virgin and Child, and the saber of Russian Tsarevich Alexei. They continue the theme of exhibits with stories that was initiated in 2011.

4. The stand of a medieval knight. At the stand visitors could try on armor (chain mail and helmet) and walk in them through the museum.

5. The Ikebana Workshop of Angela Lobastova, president of the "Ikenobo" Japanese Culture and Art Center in Chișinău. Everyone could try to arrange flowers under the guidance of master Lobastova.

6. CHRONOGRAPH at the Museum. Screenings of historical and cultural films of the 10^th International Documentary Film Festival CHRONOGRAPH 2012 that had place in Chisinau from 10 to 15 May 2012. There were presented the following films:

18:30: SĂRMAna de pe Prut / The Wired Prut (Republic of Moldova) - 47 min.
19:30: The Train Station Latvians 1937 (Latvia) - 64 min.
20:45: A. Leonov. The Spacewalker (France, Russia) - 60 min.
22:00: Love Stories from Moscow 1993-2009 (Germany) - 115 min.

7. Photographer's parlor "Retro-Museum". In one of the rooms of the museum there was made a reconstruction of a photographer's parlor from Chisinau of the past, where visitors were able to rediscover a solemnity of the lost ritual: visiting a photographer to make a picture by all canons of beauty of the past time.

8. Exhibition of ceramics and master class with Ivan Prividiuc in the museum courtyard.

9. Tour „Panorama of Chișinău at Night", which was one of the main points of the program of the Night of Museums in 2012. In cooperation with the City Hall of Chisinau and the Chisinau City Bus Fleet there was organized a pilot route "National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova - Museum of History of Chișinău (Mateevici Street)". Every half hour a bus traveled between the two museums, allowing the visitors to admire the panorama of Chișinău at night from the terrace on the tower, which houses the museum of city history.

10. Raffle Night of Museums 2012 with the special prize for visitors - a bicycle „Giant SNAP 21" provided by „DAAC-VELO-SPORT" S.R.L. The bicycle was won by Mikhail Lavrovsky.

Parteners:

#Exhibit of the Month

Glass Goblet from the Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov Cemetery (4th Century AD) in Tigheci

The European Night of Museums 2012

19 May 2012

#Exhibit of the Month