#Exhibit of the Month

The Roman bronze situla comes from a collection of archaeological artifacts confiscated at customs and transferred to the holdings of the National Museum of History of Moldova in 2009. Its place of discovery remains unknown.

A situla (Latin for "bucket") is a metal vessel-usually made of bronze-shaped like a pail and equipped with two movable handles at the top, traditionally used for mixing wine with water. The handles are attached to the vessel via two decorated ears that are welded to the rim.

The body of the situla is truncated-conical in shape and features two decorative bands with small circular patterns formed by hammering, located just below the rim.

Its base is double-layered: the inner bottom is hemispherical and hammered, while the outer bottom is flat and lathe-made. The outer base is welded to the inner bottom, serving as the vessel's foot-support.

This object was crafted using a combination of casting, hammering, and partial lathe-finishing. Dimensions: Maximum height - 31.7 cm; Maximum diameter - 22.8 cm; Base diameter - 13.5 cm

Situlae of this type originated in the Roman Empire and were later adopted by various ancient peoples, including those from the northwestern Pontic region.

Virtual Tour

Exhibitions

“Treasures of the Past (artifacts of gold and silver, 5th millennium BC - 18th century AD)”

(permanent)

Expoziția „Comorile trecutului” (vestigii din aur și argint, mileniul V a. Chr. - sec. XVIII)

The exhibition brings together the most representative objects made of gold and silver, which originate from the territory of the Republic of Moldova and are preserved in the collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova. Some of them are true masterpieces of Pre- and Proto-historic goldsmiths' work, as well as that of classical antiquity and the Middle Ages. e earliest pieces in the exhibition are temporal rings and bushings for scepters discovered at Giurgiulești (Cahul District), which are the result of the work of craftsmen, who lived 6500 years ago. Also there are presented temple rings of the Bronze Age found in different localities of the country.

Greek antiquity is represented by a series of gold artifacts of exceptional importance and flawless execution, which were found in Scythian burial mounds. Among them we should mention gold torques found at Dubăsari, set of objects that belonged to a Scythian priestess found at Nicolscoe (Slobozia District), and other jewelry items and parts of harness, such as those from Hagimus (Căușeni District), Butor (Grigoriopol District), etc. A special place belongs to the Getae artifacts found at Saharna Mare (Rezina District), Hansca (Ialoveni District), and Stolniceni (Hâncești District).

Sarmatian culture is represented in the exhibition by the ornaments of gold and semiprecious stones found at Mocra (Râbnița District), Cuconeștii Vechi (Edineț District), Hrușca (Camenca District), and others. Several exhibition showcases contain objects belonging to the Sântana de Mureș culture, represented by gold and silver ornaments and clothing accessories from Dănceni (Ialoveni District), Petrești (Ungheni District), Budești (Criuleni District), etc.

Presentation of medieval artifacts starts with the Făurești treasury Criuleni District) composed of Byzantine electrum coins of the 10th century and gold temporal rings. Of particular interest are the ornaments and kufic dirhams from Echimăuți (Rezina District) and Alcedar (Şoldănești District) and a Mamluk mace from Balabanu (Taraclia District). The exhibition is complemented by a number of medieval coin hoards and ornaments discovered in different parts of the country.

“Treasures of the Past artifacts of gold and silver, 5th millennium BC - 18th century AD”