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. VIII [XXIII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Эфталиты. Иконографические материалы
Статья посвящена иконографическим материалам, которые могут иметь отношение к эфталитам, жившим на территории Центральной Азии и соседних стран в IV-VI веках нашей эры. В V-VI веках эфталитам удалось создать великую империю. Следует отметить, что материалы эти очень скудны, и даже датировка часто приблизительна и неточна. Тем не менее, автор попытался интерпретировать имеющиеся данные из различных источников, относящихся к эфталитам, несмотря на то, что некоторые крупные вопросы попрежнему открыты для обсуждения и, вероятно, в ближайшее время останутся таковыми. Список иллюстраций:
Рис. 1. Эфталиты и их соседи в середине VI века н.э. (по Miller 1959). Рис. 2. Печати: 1 - печать Хингилы. Оттиск; 2 - печать и оттиск мужского бюста и бактрийской надписи; 3 - печать и оттиск мужского бюста и бактрийской надписи; 4 - печать и оттиск женского бюста и богомольца; 5 - печать и оттиск мужского бюста и бактрийской надписи; 6 - печать и оттиск мужского бюста и бактрийской надписи (адаптировано из Ставиский 1961; Lerner 1999; Callieri 2002). Рис. 3. Балалык-тепе. Настенная роспись (адаптировано из Брыкина 1999). Рис. 4. Самарканд (Афрасиаб). 1-4 - Настенные росписи (адаптировано из Брыкина 1999). Рис. 5. 1 - Карта древних границ Чанъана с нанесением найденных согдийских могил; 2 - план могилы Ши Джуна (по Junkai 2005). Рис. 6. Могила Ши Джуна. Изображение эфталитского правителя (?) на северной внешней стороне саркофага (по Grenet, Riboud 2003). Рис. 7. Чилекская чаша. Детали. Узбекистан (адаптировано из Cultural 1985). Рис. 8. Чаша из Свата (Британский музей). Детали (адаптировано из Göbl 1967). Рис. 9. Терракоты: 1, 8 - Дальверзин-тепе; 2, 5-7 - Будрач; 3 - Долина Сурхандарьи; 4 - Гиссарская долина (по Il'yasov 2001).
Aydogdy Kurbanov
The hephthalite numismatics
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VII [XXII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
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.
31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
