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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 event „Discover Children’s dream planet with Spiridon Vangheli”

June 1st, 2015

For the celebration of the International Children's Day on June 1st, the National Museum of History of Moldova organized in collaboration with Culture Department of Chișinău municipality an event with the generic „Discover Children's dream planet with Spiridon Vangheli". The event was attended by children with parents, grandparents and educators from Chișinău and different rural areas of the republic.

During the event, composer Constantin Rusnac performed at the piano a few songs for children and Nicoleta Arhiriuc, pupil in the 4th grade at the Theoretical lyceum „Ion Creangă", recited poetry.

The key moment of the action was the presence among the children of the famous writer Spiridon Vangheli who told stories about his collaboration with Grigore Vieru in developing the ABC and writing the book „The reign of Ciuboțel", read stories about Guguță and fragments from the ABC, spoke with the children and gave autographs. The writer expressed his satisfaction that the event offered him once again the opportunity to be in the world of childhood, together with his readers.

A contest was organized as part of the event - „Letter to Guguță" - with money awards and books offered by Culture Department. This contest was aimed at nurturing children's interest and knowledge of cultural identity values of Republic of Moldova, for the artistic creation of the writer Spiridon Vangheli, for the knowledge of Romanian language. Children wrote letters to Guguță, the most interesting ones being read loud by moderator Lucia Culev, the head of Culture Department.

Incentive awards for participation at the contest were offered to children aged 6 to 13 years, including: Ștefan Bîrlădeanu, Alina Staver, Cristian Suhodaru, Grigore Ciobanu, Iulian Ciobanu, Serghei and Dumitraș Frunză, Andreea and Teodor Durnea, Daniel Cuciuc, Adrian Popescu, Igor Ciubuc, Valeria Tabac etc. For the most beautiful letters Gheorghe Zavtoni, from Ratuș village, Criuleni district, was awarded the 3rd award (100 lei) and to Cătălina Cazacu, from Tîrnova village, Dondușeni district, the 2nd award (200 lei). Spiridon Vangheli congratulated, in his turn, all the participants at the contest, bestowing books with his autographs, hugs and words of praise.



 

 


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