#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

International Collaboration

2013

The museum participated with two objects - a porcelain cup and a mirror fragment, China, 13th-14th centuries at the international exhibition China's Treasuries, which was organized by the National Museum of History of Romania in collaboration with the Center of Heritage Exchange from the People's Republic of China in the period of April 29th - September 30th 2013 in Bucharest (Romania).

Porcelain cup, China, 13th-14th century (from NMHM collections)

A fragment of a mirror, China, 13th-14th century (from NMHM collections)

Natalia Mateevici, scientific researcher-coordinator, participated in the period June 25th-July 25th, 2013 at the international Ukrainian-German archaeological excavation camp Kosary -2013.

Natalia Mateevici, scientific researcher-coordinator, participated in the period August 5th-August 30th, 2013 at the international Romanian-Italian archaeological excavation camp from Ibida (Slava Rusă, Romania).

On August 10th-17th, 2013 Lucia Marinescu-Tonu, scientific researcher, and Elena Ploșnița, scientific secretary, participated at the works of the 23rd General Conference of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) with the theme „Museums - memory and creativity - social changes" which took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

On August 19th-24th, 2013 Lucia Marinescu-Tonu, researcher in the Medieval History and Numismatics Sector, had a documentation internship at one of the most important centers of museology from Brazil - Museum of Astronomy and Connected Sciences (Rio de Janeiro).

Livia Sârbu and Mariana Sârbu benefited in the period between October 14th and 23rd from the course of professional training „Immobile heritage project management" organized by the National Museum of Eastern Carpathians, Sfântul Gheorghe, and the Center of Professional Training in Culture, Bucharest, Romania

#Exhibit of the Month

Roman Bronze Situla (1st century BC – 2nd century AD)

2013

#Exhibit of the Month