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.
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. X [XXV], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Keywords: Tulucești, Valea Mărului, Galați, axe, axe-hammer, the Middle Ages.
Abstract: Random discoveries have allowed us to discover some very interesting artifacts - four iron axes, relating to the period of the Middle Ages. None of them has archaeological context; they were found in the collections of two school museums from the villages in the county of Galați, where we carried out archaeological research: Tulucești(A) and Valea Mărului (B).
These items are not rarities (such artifacts are known in Romania, as well as in Europe), but to date it is the only finds of this kind in southern Moldova. In addition, the presence of the original ornamentation on two axes, which has no analogies in the literature available to us, prompted us to present them in this publication, although some of these items have already been published.
List of illustrations: Fig. 1. Physical map of the Galați County indicating the villages of Tulucești and Valea Mărului. Fig. 2. Axe-hammer found at Tulucești (photo by C. Croitoru; drawing by C. Istrati). Fig. 3. Axe found at Tulucești (photo by C. Croitoru; drawing by C. Istrati). Fig. 4. Axe found at Valea Mărului (photo by C. Croitoru; drawing by C. Istrati). Fig. 5. Letter from 27 November 1974, the annex. Fig. 6. Distribution map of axes on the territory of Moldova. A. hammer-axes: Bălteni; Iași; Piatra Neamț; Mâdrești; Murgeni; Tulucești; Vaslui. B. axes: Câmpulung; Coșna; Cozănești; Dărmănești; Piatra Neamț; Suceava; Șuletea; Vatra Dornei; Vutcani. Fig. 7. Hammer-axes discovered at: 1 - Bălteni; 2 - Curcani; 3 - Gugești; 4 - Murgeni; 5 - Mândrești; 6 - Iași; 7 - Pitra Neamț; 8 - Tulucești; 9 - Vaslui. Fig. 8. Axes discovered at: 1 - Câmpulung; 2 - Coșna; 3 - Cozănești; 4 - Dărmănești; 5 - Piatra Neamț; 6 - Suceava; 7 - Șuletea; 8 - Vatra Dornei; 9 - Vutcani.
Costin Croitoru
Contributions to the history of the Romanian vocabulary: names of Polish coins that circulated in Moldova. II. Poltorac / Polturac / Potor
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XIV [XXIX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Costin Croitoru
Contributions to the history of the Romanian vocabulary: names of Polish coins that circulated in Moldova. I. Potronic
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XIII [XXVIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
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 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.
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.
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.