#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.

Virtual Tour

Services

Admission to Exhibitions

Entrance fees:

General Admission:

Adults - 50 lei
Pensioners, students - 20 lei
Pupils - 10 lei

Free admission:
Preschool children (under 7 years old), Children from residential institutions, Children with disabilities (under 18 years old) and their companions,Adults with severe and accentuated disabilities (disability degrees I and II), Conscripts, Official and cultural delegations (within the museum's operating hours), Employees of the national museum network, the Ministry of Culture, and national cultural heritage institutions, Holders of ICOM and ICOMOS cards.

Free entry for all visitors: the last Thursday of the month.

Closed: Monday and on January 1, 7, and 8; March 8; the first and second day of Easter; May 1 and 9; August 27 and 31; October 14; December 25.

Guided Tours

The museum offers guided tours in Romanian, Russian, and English upon request for organized groups or individual visitors (groups of 5 to 30 people). Tours must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance by phone (022240426) or email (muzeuldeistorie@gmail.com), specifying the date, time, group profile and size, and preferred language.

Guided Tour Fees:

For a group of 5 to 30 people:
Adults - 150 lei
Students, pupils, pensioners - 100 lei

Guided tours in foreign languages (Russian, English):

Adults - 300 lei
Students, pupils, pensioners - 200 lei

Free guided tours:
For children from residential institutions and military conscripts.

Educational Activities

Fees (per hour):

Educational Workshops - 20 MDL
Interactive Lessons - 20 MDL

Photo and Video Filming in the Museum

Photographing/Scanning Museum Pieces

For a museum piece - 250 MDL
For reproduction of a piece, commercial publications - 1000 MDL
Special video/photo shoots in museum rooms
(per hour) - 1500 MDL

Photography or photocopying of the Museum exhibit items by juridical persons is possible only with the permission from the Museum administration, obtained in written form.

Specialized assistance

Selection of textual and illustrative material from the Museum's Heritage - 30 MDL

Approval of exhibition documentation (for one author's sheet) 500 MDL

Expert Examination of Cultural Values

• in the Museum: 150 MDL for an object;
• within the city limits: 300 MDL for an object;
• outside the city: additionally includes the traveling and accommodation costs, at the expense of a client

Library

The Museum Library’s collection includes more than 10,000 books on a wide range of subjects, such as archaeology, history, museum studies, and scholarly reference works of interest to the Museum staff. The Library is also available to the public.

Costs:

to borrow a book: 5 MDL / a day;

Rent of Museum Space

The 1^st floor hall and the temporary exhibition room may be rented for temporary exhibitions, scientific and cultural events. For additional information and reservations, contact the Accounts Department, by phone: + 373 (22) 23-82-69, or the Deputy Director for Public Relations, by phone: + 373 (22) 23-83-13.

Museum Shop

In the Museum Shop can be purchased publications concerned archaeology and history of Moldova, exhibition catalogues, booklets and museum guides, and replicas of exhibit items are available.