#Exhibit of the Month

The exhibit represents a fragment from a unique amphora discovered in 1988 in a ceramic kiln from the Chirileni III settlement (Sîngerei district), attributed to the Cucuteni-Tripolie archaeological culture stage CII (5th-4th millennia BC).

The ceramic fragment with painted human and geometric representations constitutes about 50% of the upper part of an amphora, made of clay paste without impurities. It is burned in an oxidizing environment, with a reddish color in the section. The inner surface of the vessel is covered with a pink-whitish color layer, and the smoothed and polished exterior is covered with a yellowish-gray engobe start. The body of the amphora is spheroidal with four pyramidal cakes on the shoulder, and the neck is high frustoconical with a short outwardly turned lip. The dimensions of the bowl: lip diameter - 18 cm; maximum body diameter - 43-45 cm; neck height - 13 cm; height of exposed fragment - 43 cm; the estimated total height of the vessel is 55-60 cm. Thickness at the lip - 6-7 mm, at the neck - 9-11 mm, and at the body - 10-13 mm.

The outer surface of the amphora in a proportion of about 4/5, except for the lower part, is bicolorly decorated with black and brown paint, the brush being used as a tool, which can be felt from the specific application of the lines. Two brushes were most likely used. The ornament is divided into three horizontal registers that surround the vessel dividing the interior into metopes. The decoration is composed of lines arranged vertically, horizontally or obliquely forming geometric compositions of the net type.

The special significance of the amphora resides in the representation in the middle register of the painting of the stylized scene of a female ritual dance. The scene painted on the body of the amphora represents the image of a group made up of 9 female characters assisted by two dogs and 3 snakes. The female images are represented schematically, with the emphasis on long legs, mini-trapezoidal skirts, short stretched bodies, folded dancing hands and pointed heads.

Vessels with painted anthropomorphic representations are very rare, being around 140 images of this kind known so far in the entire area of spread of the Cucuteni-Tripoli culture.

Based on the analysis of the shape of the vessel, the specific decoration and the context of the discovery, it can be admitted that the amphora from Chirileni belongs to the cult of the Mother Woman, the Great Goddess worshiped by the Eneolithic populations.

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Abstract of the Institutional project "The role of museum heritage in the development of contemporary society (2015-2018)"

In the period 2015-2018, the researchers (29) of the National Museum of History of Moldova have implemented the institutional project The Role of museum heritage in the development of contemporary society within the Strategic Direction “National heritage and the development of society”.

Within the framework of the project, the research and systematization of some historical, documentary, archeological, numismatic and postal card collections has led to the identification of new heritage values and their scientific and public valorization at national and international level for the benefit of contemporary society. It also contributed to the conceptualization of the educational role of the museum in the community and to a further digitalization of cultural goods and promotion of museum heritage.

The research of cultural heritage assets: archaeological collections, photographic collections, icons collection, collection of old books from different historical periods has provided new data and information which created opportunities for their use to improve the exhibition narrative and facilitate the access of the public to information and cultural heritage owned by the museum.

In the museum and archive collections were discovered new photo and documentary testimonies about the life of the Lazo noble family from the modern age Bessarabia, were recovered cultural, material, three-dimensional assets that allowed a final reconstruction of the Lazo family mansion as a museum and tourist objective, as a true testimony of cultural identity. The new scientific data found in the archival files allowed us to present the appropriate material and moral environment of the Lazo family mansion from Piatra with all passed generations and the time they lived in, intertwined with major personalities of the manor who have made history and have contributed to the development of the Bessarabian society over the centuries.

The role of the museum's relationship with the public and of museum education have been identified, from the nineteenth century to the present. A serious contribution was made to the real dimension of the Moldovan museum's relationship with the visitor, the role and the usefulness of the museum institution in the contemporary society. Based on social and psychological research of the public, was identified the role of the museum in the consciousness of the visitors. The right and the privilege to enter the contemporary museum were determined, also the prospects for the evolution of the museum's relationship with the public.

The criteria for keeping track of the museum public were identified, analyzed and structured for the whole period of existence of the museum as a public institution and were established the categories of public for the contemporary museum institution.

In the framework of the project was collected information on over 1,000 coins discovered in Costeşti, Ialoveni district, from public and private collections. Preliminary conclusions were made with reference to the structure of coins discovered on the site. Therefore the discoveries of coins from Costeşti consists of monetary issues of the Byzantine Empire, the Golden Horde, Serbia, Bulgaria, Czechia (14th century), Moldova (15th century), Sweden (17th century), the Kingdom of Poland (16th-17th centuries), the Ottoman Empire (15th-18th centuries), the Russian Empire (18th century). For the Golden Horde coins were discovered coins, previously not identified, such as Seljuk coins, issues by some beyliks from Anatolia, Eretna, Gandar, etc. Monetary discoveries from the 15th to the 18th centuries show that after the exit of this area from the authority of the Golden Horde the settlement continued its existence.

In the archives of Poland (Warsaw and Poznan) and Russia (Saint Petersburg and Moscow) new original documents and reproductions of the 18th century documents were found about the Cantemir dynasty and the Movileşti family from the 17th-18th, considered up until recently irretrievably lost. Documentary research in the archive and museum provided the opportunity to publish for the first time 26 unknown documents related to the law, will, finances, estate and family heritage and 38 personal letters of Maria Cantemir to Antioh Cantemir.

The archaeological excavations carried out at the Taraclia-Gaidabul site resulted in important discoveries referring to the elements of building, life style and material culture of the Sabatinovka culture communities.

During the archaeological research in Varniţa, were discovered the remains of the foundation of a stone building which is considered, based on the comparative analysis of archaeological resources, of the written documentary sources, of the descriptions, plans and drawings of the period, to be the Chancellery of King Charles XII of Sweden which operated in Varniţa between 1711 and 1713.

The results of the research within the institutional project have been valorized through various scientific and public forms in the country and abroad.

Publications: total 390, among which 12 monographs. Every year, were published two issues of the museum’s scientific journal Tyragetia.

The collaboration of the museum with various institutions in the republic and abroad resulted in the organization of scientific events, in the common public valorization of the historical and cultural heritage, in active participation in various research initiatives, including archaeological excavations. In the years 2015-2018 were organized 14 national scientific conferences and 8 international scientific conferences. The annual scientific conference of the museum History Archeology Museology reached its 29^th edition, and the International Numismatic Symposium reached its 17^th edition. The museum's researchers participated at 140 scientific conferences in the period 2015-2018, at 10 events with international participation, and at 141 international events held in the republic and abroad.

Museum researchers contributed to heritage development by collecting 5881 new cultural goods through research and acquisition. The researchers from the museum participated in the digitization of museum collections in the years 2015-2018 - 9368 analytical files.

Owing to international support, the museum's researchers have had internships in Romania, Germany, Poland, France and Russia.

The museum continued to be a scientific methodological base for students and master students of Moldova State University and the State Pedagogical University "Ion Creanga" who carry their museum, archaeological, ethnographic, heritage internships.

The results of the scientific research have been presented to the public in several temporary thematic exhibitions in the republic and abroad. The researchers have drafted the concept and thematic structure of each exhibition - 20 in total.

Museum researchers have provided specialist assistance to several public and private institutions.

The results of the research have been disseminated to the general public through various promotional materials, dozens of radio and TV programs.