#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).

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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Research Research Projects

GDRE (Groupement de Recherche Européen) „Trouvailles monétaires" (2007-2010)

During 2007-2010 the Museum developed the international project of numismatic research GDRE (Groupement de Recherche Européen) „Trouvailles monétaires"

Members of GDRE:

France, CNRS: Paris (Centre de recherches historique) - Georges Depeyrot - GDRE coordinator; Musee des Terreaux, Lyon;

The Republic of Moldova, Academy of Sciences of Moldova: National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova (A. Boldureanu- coordinator) and the Institute of Cultural Heritage (S. Tabac);

Poland, Warsaw University: Institute of Arhaeology;

Romania, Romanian Academy: Institute of Archaeology; Cabinet of Medals of Academy Library;

Slovenia, National Museum: Cabinet of Medals.

Mission of GDRE:

- Facilitate and encourage contacts and exchanges of researches;
- Promote co-operation actions;
- Coordinate research programs for many partners for the purpose of supporting of research and technological development;
- Find opportunities to harmonize and complement the programs through seminars, congresses devoted to scientific themes of GDRE, etc.

Work plan and schedule for the Republic of Moldova

1. In 2009, complete and publish the book "Corpus de tresors de Moldavie".

2. Publication of the book "Tresors majeurs de Moldavie".

Activities in the framework of GDRE:

1. The round table "Discoveries of Coins" organized by the European Research Group in the framework of the 8th Symposium of Numismatics held on May 29-30, 2007 in Chisinau.

2. Participation in the session of the European Research Group in the framework of the 9th Symposium of Numismatics held in Chisinau on September 17-18, 2008.

3. Participation in the international conference organized by the Jagellonian University in Krakow, Poland, where the participants of GDRE met in the framework of inter-academic exchange on April 21-26, 2008. In the course of the work there were summed up the activities for 2007 and planned the activities for the next period.

4. Participation in the International Congress of Numismatics, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom, August 31- September 4, 2009.