#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.

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Exhibitions

"Russo-Turkish War of 1806-1812 and the Annexation of Bessarabia: Memory of the East and the West"

In commemoration of 200 years since the annexation of Bessarabia to the Russian Empire (by the Treaty of Bucharest from 16/28 May 1812) the National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova organizes the exhibition "Russo-Turkish War of 1806-1812 and the Annexation of Bessarabia: Memory of the East and the West".

The exhibition is of national significance; it exposes some valuable pieces of museum property: a collection of weapons related to Russo-Turkish wars, collection of maps of the time, books with maps, battle plans, lithographs, etc. The National Archives of the Republic of Moldova also participate in the exhibition with an impressive collection of authentic documents presented to the public for the first time - Archives of Russian Senators, 1806-1812. Various types of items are united in order to highlight the impact of the war on Bessarabia. The context of war is presented in the exhibition in terms of imperial interests pursued by the Great Powers: Russia, Turkey, France, Prussia, and the Habsburg Empire.

The exhibition opens with a series of museum objects, which gives the public an overview of the phenomenon of war, presented in four distinct thematic sections. The first section, entitled Prelude to the Annexation, reflects the stages of the war, military occupation of the Romanian Principalities including the territory between the Prut and Dniester. War events are presented by genuine objects, including the remarkable collection of weapons, books with maps, war plans, and pieces of military clothing. The second thematic section entitled Imperial Projects reflects diplomatic battles between the Western Powers for division and / or redistribution of Romanian territories. These are reflected in the exhibition by diplomatic reports, correspondence between representatives of European powers, war notes, memos, etc. The third thematic section includes Boyars' Letters from the Time of Russian Occupation and presents various reports, complaints and letters, showing the hardships and sufferings of war borne by various social groups in the occupied territories of the Romanian Principalities in 1806-1812. The exhibition ends with the section Annexation of Bessarabia, which presents the final act of war - Peace Treaty of Bucharest (16/28 May 1812) signed at the inn of the Russian agent Manuc-Bey - the event reflected in the picture Treaty of Bucharest (author: L. Grigorashenco) and on the Map of Europe in 1812. The exhibition is completed with some war reconstructions: Turkish tent, two Turkish flags (war trophies), and military clothing (copies). A clock of the time complements the exhibition as a symbol of historical time. Through the exhibits the visitors will discover a new chapter in the history of space between the Prut and Dniester 200 years ago.

#Exhibit of the Month

Needle case

"Russo-Turkish War of 1806-1812 and the Annexation of Bessarabia: Memory of the East and the West"

#Exhibit of the Month