#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.

Virtual Tour

Museum education

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The National Museum of History of Moldova proposes a student education program entitled "Altfel de școală la muzeu" ("A different kind of school at the museum"). The main objective of this program is learning through and in the museum, in the context of harnessing mobile national patrimony.

Participation in these educational projects of the museum is by appointment. Entries can be submitted from Monday to Thursday between 11.00 - 16.00, by calling 022240426 or by sending an e-mail at muzeuldeistorie@gmail.com . For details contact: Department of Public Relations and Museum Education tel. 022240426.

The structure of the "A different kind of school at the museum" program

Cycle of museum lessons/ interactive visits
The interactive visit takes place in one of the halls of the permanent exhibition "History and civilization" and implies an interdisciplinary and interactive approach of the chosen theme, using principles of active pedagogy. The topics are treated differentially, depending on age and level of knowledge of the young audiences.

Themes of active visits:

-         Our ancestors - our history
-         Sketches from the medieval history of Moldova
-         Bessarabia in the Russian Empire, 1812-1917
-         The Great Union and the integration of Bessarabia into Greater Romania
-         The political repressions of the Stalinist dictatorship.

Educational notebooks „A journey into prehistory and ancient history", „Discover the Middle Ages with the curious Knight", „Events. Facts. People." (Contemporary History) and „Travel in time" (Prehistory - Contemporary History) are used as a tools for museum pedagogy which promotes education through heritage as an alternative form of knowledge of history. Coordinators: G. Mîrzac, N. Popovici, T. Zaremba, E. Golban.

Workshops

The Experimental Archaeology Workshop entitled "The Archaeological Object - an Enigma" is a journey through the ages long past; young audiences are invited to discover the secrets of prehistoric communities. The program consists of a theoretical part (a guided tour in the old and ancient history part of the exhibition and viewing a documentary that reconstructs the life of a human settlement about six thousand years old) and an applied one in the workshop (getting to know and use the archaeological object itself in order to model prehistoric pots after the original ones). The workshop is equipped with prehistoric work tools and ceramics, illustrative materials, electronic projection devices and a film library that reconstructs the evolution of human society. Coordinator: Mârzac Galina.

"Mysteries of prehistoric pottery" Workshop is a space designed to revive our ancestor's craft of ceramics. Through audio-visual projections and presentations of original objects from the museum patrimony, as well as by practical clay modelling activities students will discover the practical use and artistic value of the ceramic vessel recovered from archaeological excavations. Within this workshop a contest for the most skilled "master of prehistoric pottery" is organized. Coordinator: Mârzac Galina.

"The History and Art of Writing" Workshop aims to introduce pupils / students to the world of writing, the materials used within the process and book printing. By using historical writing tools (pieces of wood or bone, wedge pens, pen, inkwells etc.) workshop participants will write on clay tiles, handmade paper (made at the museum workshop) and on industrial paper, different ancient texts and documents. Coordinator: Eugenia Golban.

The "Little Magical Hands" Workshop includes an active tour of the exhibition and practical activities using the origami technique. Children will hear a story about the objects found in the museum and will work in the workshop. Here they will learn the technique of folding paper and will shape different objects that were seen in the exhibition. The target group for this program are pupils aged from 6 to 14 years. Coordinator: Natalia Popovici.

The "Movie at the Museum" Project
Is a weekly cinema program for all audiences. The project promotes historical and documentary films as a means of historical and intercultural knowledge. The CLIO museum cinema provides weekly historic and documentary film screenings as well as thematic programs (debates, comments, meetings with filmmakers and historians).

The museum's cinema archive includes more than 40 films:

Reconstitution films

1. Gumelnița. Bucșani (reconstructs the evolution of human society starting with prehistory) - 45 min.
2. Magia Cucuteni - The Magic of Cucuteni (reconstructs the great eneolithic civilization from South-Eastern Europe, Cucuteni civilization-TRIPOLI, mil V-IV BC.) - 25 min.
3. Cultura Cucuteni Tripolie - The Cucuteni Tripoli Culture (presents the Cucuteni ceramics - an exceptional heritage left by the eneolithic civizilation of sedentary farmers) - 20 min.

Documentaries

Empires

4. Bizanț - Imperiu pierdut - "Byzantium - a Lost Empire" (in English, with subtitles in Romanian) - 47 min

Rulers

5. Voievodul. Măria sa Ştefan cel Mare și Sfânt - "The Prince. His majesty Stephen the Great" - 26 min.
6. Constantin Brâncoveanu - Constantin Brancoveanu - 27 min.
7. Mihai Viteazul, dimensiunea europeană a unui erou - "Michael the Brave, the European dimension of a hero" - 29 min.

Monasteries

8. Mănăstirea Putna - The Putna Monastery - 50 min.
9. Mănăstirea Neamț- The Neamt Monastery - 25 min.
10. Destinația Moldova. Mănăstirea Căpriana, Mănăstirea Hâncu - "Destination Moldova. The Capriana Monastery. The Hancu Monastery"- 15 min.

Old Cities

11. Orheiul Vechi - Old Orhei- 29 min.

Revolutions and Wars

12. Arme cu tărie, suflet românesc - Hard Weapons, Romanian Soul (military aspects of the 1848 Revolution) - 31 min.

13. For the defense of the country and its independence (The war of independence from 1877-1878) - 26 min.
14. Ballad for independence (The war of independence from 1877- 1878) - 8 min.

15. Filmele Independenței - Movies of the Independence (documentary testimonials of the 1877- 1878 Independence War) - 52 min.
16. Oșteanul de la 1877- The 1877 Soldier (The 1877-1878 Independence War) - 7 min.
17. Pe aici nu se trece! - You cannot pass here! (the beginning of the first world war) - 24 min.
18. Ordin de luptă împotriva uitării - War Order Against Forgetting(war veterans remember the fighting that took place in the heroic year of 1917) - 27 min.
19. Răstignirea României - Romania's Crucifixion (territorial loss suffered by Romania in 1940) - 28 min.
20. Omenie în vremuri de restriște - Humanity in times of distress (support of Polish refugees in Romania during World War II) - 26 min.
21. Lagărul - The Camp (concentration camps during The Second World War) - 26 min.

Great Union of 1918

22. Basarabia- Bessarabia (the national movement between the years 1917-1918) - 48 min.
23. Marea Unire - The Great Union (Alba Iulia, December 1, 1918) - 38 min.

Crimes of communism

24. Golgota Basarabiei - Calvary of Bessarabia (crimes of communism in Bessarabia) - 62 min.

25. The expeditions of memory - 59 min.

26. Memorialul durerii - The memorial of pain (communist crimes in Romania) - 15 min.

Flag History

27. Tricolorul din inimi - The Flag of Hearts - 20 min.

Military glory
28. The echo of the military glory of the Romanian people in the writings of Mihai Eminescu - 6 min.
29. From a nation of braves - 8 min.

Recent History
30. The poor from Prut - 50 min.

Cultural Heritage

31. Cartea religioasă medievală. Din colecția Muzeului Național de Arheologie și Istorie a Moldovei - Medieval religious books. From the collection of the National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova - 30 min.
32. Chișinăul de odinioară în imagini - Old Chisinau in pictures (19th century - begging of the 20th century, based on the postcards owned by the museum) - 30 min.
33. Chișinău - o capitală europeană - "Chisinau - a European Capital" (promoting potential investment, tourism and culture of the city) - 20 min.
34. Alexandru Plămădeală și Şcoala de Arte Frumoase din Basarabia - Alexandru Plamadeala and the School of Fine Arts in Bessarabia (end of the 19th century - the ‘40s of the 20th century) - 17 min.

General Knowledge

35. Christopher Columbus. A Lost Journey (in Russian) - 47min.
36. Vladimir Vîsoțkii and Marina Vladi (in Russian) - 51min
37. Nefertiti, Queen of Egypt (in English, with subtitles in Romanian)- 01.20 min

Historical Films

38. Burebista - 136 min.
39. Columna- The Column (Dacians during Decebal) - 130 min.
40. Ştefan cel Mare - Stephen the Great- 128 min.
41. Christopher Columbus. History of geographical discoveries (in Russian) - 115 min.