#Exhibit of the Month

This clay vessel was discovered in 1982 by archaeologist V. Sorochin during excavations of a burial mound (no. 1) located in the village of Speia, Dubăsari District. It originates from grave no. 5 and is dated to the 4th millennium BC, belonging to the Usatovo culture.
The vessel was found in a child's grave. The burial pit had an oval shape, and the deceased was laid in a crouched position (similar to the fetal posture), on the left side. A total of five vessels were uncovered in this grave: three near the back, one at the feet, and one in the pelvic area.
The cultural attribution of this funerary complex was determined based on the burial rite and grave goods. This culture is characterized by the specific construction of the burial pit, as well as the positioning and orientation of the deceased toward the east and northeast.

The vessel is shaped from clay mixed with finely crushed shell. Its walls curve gradually toward the top, with the widest diameter at the shoulder area. It has a short neck, a slightly flared rim, and a flat base. The surface is carefully polished, in some areas to a lustrous finish. The interior is reddish-brown, while the exterior is yellowish-brown with gray spots. The rim features groups of perforations, three of which are preserved in their original state. The diameter of the holes is 0.35 cm. The space between the groups of perforations is decorated with cord impressions. The transition from the neck to the shoulder is adorned with three horizontal lines made with cord, from which, in five places, three vertical lines descend, each 5 cm long, executed using the same technique. At the time of discovery, these lines were filled with a white paste. The space between the groups of lines is decorated at the top with short vertical lines (0.5 cm long), and in the center with a meander ornament made of two parallel lines impressed with cord. The base of the vessel retains the imprint of a textile.
Vessel dimensions: Height: 22 cm; Rim diameter: 15.7 cm; Maximum diameter: 22 cm; Base diameter: 10 cm.

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Annual Scientific Session of the Museum 2013

October 4, 2013

As part of the institutional project „Scientific valorification and promotion of various categories of museum heritage"(2013-2014) was organized the 23rd edition of the yearly session of scientific communications on October 3rd and 4th, 2013. This year the session was opened by welcome words from dr.hab. Eugen Sava, general director of the museum, Victor Ghilaș, scientific secretary of Humanistic Sciences Section of ASM, univ. prof. Ion Eremia, State University of Moldova, Sergiu Musteață, dean of History and Ethno-pedagogy Department of State Pedagogical University „I.Creangă". Their speeches are messages of appreciation of museum collaborators efforts towards scientific research and public valorization of museum heritage.

The participants at the opening session assisted also at the presentation of two numbers of the museum journal Tyragetia. Dr. Aurel Zanoci and dr.hab. Elena Ploșnița expressed their gratitude to authors which contributed to the publication of a new issue of this prestigious scientific journal.

The program of the session included 60 presentations divided in three sections. Three papers were presented at the plenary session by dr. L. Zabolotnaia (Institute of History of ASM), dr. hab. E. Sava and dr. A. Boldureanu (National Museum of History of Moldova).

This year the session was attended by researchers and museographers from universities, academic and museum institutions from the republic and from abroad: Romania, Ukraine and Russia.

At the section Archaeology, Ancient and Medieval History were presented 22 papers, most of them focusing on the results of the latest archaeological investigations. With a novelty spirit are the papers „Preliminary considerations regarding archaeological research at Soroca Fortress in 2012-2013"(S. Mustață, I. Tentiuc, I. Ursu), „Preliminary archaeological investigations at Manuc-Bey Complex" (O. Levițki, I. Ciobanu, L. Ciobanu), „Archaeological research at Saharna Mică open settlement from 2013"(I. Niculiță, A. Nicic, A. Corobcean) etc.

Those 24 papers presented in the section Modern and contemporary history revealed an array of topics regarding economy, culture, religion, personalities from national history and culture. Two papers - „Advertising for slaves trade in Romanian Principalities" (dr. Marian Petcu, Bucharest) and „Gipsies/Roma - the seventh national minority in Big Romania (1918-1940)" ( Ion Duminică, Chișinău, based on archival documents and multidisciplinary historiographic resources, highlighted some problems of the historic and social evolution of Roma in different historical periods. Interesting and novelty subjects were reflected in the presentations of dr. Dinu Poștarencu, dr. Igor Cereteu, dr. Liliana Condraticova, dr. prof. Valentin Tomuleț etc.

The presentations form the section Museology and valorization of museum heritage were rich in thematic and approached various problems from national museology and spoke about the need to permanently valorize museum cultural assets. Are worth of mentioning the papers „West-European dictionaries and encyclopedias from the collections of the National History Museum of Moldova" by dr. Andrei Emilciuc, „KEV Journal - an environment for advertising (19th - beginning of 20th cc.) by V. Serjant, „Book editors from Bessarabia (end of 19th - beginning of 20th cc.) by A. Grițco. Tina Fedoseeva from Ukraine, presented „Principles of organizing temporary exhibitions on the place of archaeological and architectural monuments" which raised many questions and provoked and serious debate.
Already a tradition of national museology, this year's edition of the session was part of events organized on the occasion of the 30th anniversary from the foundation of the National History Museum of Moldova.

#Exhibit of the Month

Clay Vessel discovered in Speia Village, Dubăsari District

Annual Scientific Session of the Museum 2013

October 4, 2013

#Exhibit of the Month