#Exhibit of the Month

This is a case for needles, unusually large in size. It was used in the Stone Age as a container for storing and preserving small and fragile items. The case was discovered by the famous researcher Ilie Borziac in 1996 during archaeological excavations at a multi-layered Upper Paleolithic site in the village of Cosauți, Soroca district. The artifact was found at a depth of 9.7-9.85 m in a loess-like occupation layer, among the remains of a seasonal deer hunter camp (in the so-called occupation layer 5). The occupation layer was dated by radiocarbon method to 18140 ± 180. The object is 17.6 cm long and 1.5 cm in diameter. It was made of a thin-walled tubular bone, probably of a large bird (eagle, bustard or gull). The ends of the object were cut across. A round hole 5 mm in diameter with carefully polished edges was made at one of the ends.

The entire surface of the product is polished to a shine. It is ornamented with notches. The notches are applied rhythmically around the entire perimeter. They, without a doubt, indicate that the work was made by human hands. The length of the notches is 3-3.5 mm. They are located transversely, grouped in three rows. The number of notches in the rows is 8/8, 16/10, 14/7, with an average distance between notches of 4 mm.

The researchers who addressed the issue of the functionality of this rare archaeological piece, put forward several hypotheses. One of them is that the artifact probably had a multifunctional practical utility. According to one hypothesis, the presence of a hole at one end of the object indicates that it is a flute. This opinion was called into question due to the identification of only one obvious hole on the surface of the artifact. Most likely, the presence of the hole indicates that a thread was passed through it to hang the case with needles in order to protect and secure it. On the other hand, the relatively large size of this object also allows it to be used as a coupling. According to another version, this kind of vestiges could be used by hunters to remove skins from hunted animals, as a tube for pumping air under the skin of small animals in the process of skinning them. This not only greatly facilitated the removal of the skin, but also kept the subcutaneous fat intact.

Specimens of equally large sizes, similar to the one found at the ford on the Dniester, made of tubular bone with cut off epiphyses, were discovered at several Neolithic sites in Yakutia. Here they were used as needle cases. Some of them were found with needles inside, which confirmed their practical functionality.

Virtual Tour

Exhibitions

„Moldova’s Davas”

(Thracian-Getae citadels from the interfluves of Prut and Dniester Rivers at 70 years from the beginning of research)

20 September – 31 October 2016

The exhibition "Moldova's Davas" was organized as part of European Heritage Days and celebrates the 70th anniversary from the beginning of archaeological research at Thracian-Getae citadels from the territory of the Republic of Moldova. The exhibition brings together about 160 archaeological pieces from the collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova and the Museum of Antiquities "Tudor Arnăut" from the State University of Moldova. Archaeological exhibits are represented by ceramic vessels of various shapes and sizes, tools, weapons, clothing items and jewelry, religious objects etc.

The first Thracian-Getae citadels from the interfluves of the Prut and Dniester Rivers were identified in the interwar period. However, their repertoire and research began only after World War II. Researcher G. D. Smirnov has a great merit in discovering and researching fortified sites dated with the 6th-3rd centuries BC. He conducted several surveys in 1946 in the basin of the Middle Dniester, Lower Răut and the basin of Botna Rivers. As a result, were discovered the citadels from Saharna Mare, Saharna Mică, Saharna „Revechin", Butuceni, Trebujeni „Potârca", Horodca Mare, Horodca Mică etc. In the same year, on 29th August have begun archaeological excavations headed by G. D. Smirnov at Saharna Mare, the first Thracian-Getae citadel subject to archaeological research on the territory of the Republic of Moldova.

Archaeological surveys and research at Thracian-Getae citadels continued in the following decades and lead to discovering other 80 similar sites.

Following archeological research conducted over the past 70 years, have been recovered numerous and varied artifacts, many of which are today preserved in the collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova.

A special place in the exhibition is held by ceramic vessels of various shapes and sizes discovered from the excavations of G.D. Smirnov at Butuceni and recent research from Saharna Mare, Saharna „Revechin", Trebujeni „Potârca", Horodca Mică, Rudi etc.

Daily activity in the Thracian-Getae citadels is shown in the exhibition by many tools, such as axes, sickles, knives and many different other iron objects. Also, are displayed spindles of different sizes and shapes, used by inhabitants of the citadels in spinning wool, flax etc.

An important role in determining the military character of the citadels are findings of weapons attested at most sites where archaeological excavations have been conducted. The weapons are represented in the exhibition by numerous arrowheads made of bronze.

Another important category of findings shown in the exhibition is jewelry, clothing and toiletries, presented by mirrors, brooches, bracelets, rings etc., made of silver, bronze and iron.

Existing relations between the communities who inhabited the Thracian-Getae citadels and settlements from surrounding areas and the Greek civilization is demonstrated by numerous imported items: amphorae, luxury tableware, jewelry etc. This artifact category is shown in the exhibition by Lekane, whole and fragmented amphorae that come from famous Greek centers of Chios, Thasos, Pontic Heraclea, Sinope etc.

The exhibition contains also a series of posters with maps, orthophotoplans, overview images of the citadels, photos showing the defensive walls and ditches, images from the archeological excavations etc.