#Exhibit of the Month

The bronze hoard was discovered on the territory of Mîndrești village, Telenești district, in 1968. It was identified accidentally by a group of students from the village school, and the materials later came to the attention of specialists at the Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences. According to documentary records, the hoard was composed of ten pieces: four socketed axes (celts), a dagger fragment, a sword fragment, a sickle, a winged axe, an adze-axe, and a chain consisting of four links.
Currently, of the mentioned assemblage, six objects are preserved in the collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova: two socketed axes (celts), the winged axe, the adze-axe, the dagger fragment, and the chain made of four links.- Socketed axe (celt) with one loop. Dimensions: Length - 10.2 cm; Weight - 186 g.
- Socketed axe (celt) with one frontal loop. Dimensions: Length - 8.4 cm; Width: 33-46 mm; Weight - 124 g.
- Winged axe. Dimensions: Length - 14.0 cm; Width - 2.5-3.4 cm; Weight - 285 g.
- Adze-axe. Dimensions: Length - 14.8 cm; Width - 2.3-5.0 cm; Weight - 286 g.
- Dagger fragment. Dimensions: Length - 16.5 cm; Blade length - 9.8 cm; Blade width - 2.8 cm; Weight - 81 g.
- Chain formed of four links. Dimensions: Length - 17.1 cm; Link diameter - 3.8; Weight - 32 g.The bronze hoard of Mîndrești is important due to the association of objects that find analogies in the regional repertoire with pieces that show clear analogies in Central Europe and the Carpathian Basin. The assemblage reflects a zone of contact and interaction where metallic forms of different origins and traditions circulated and were integrated into the repertoire of local communities.
Chronologically, the bronze hoard of Mîndrești is attributed to the Early Hallstatt period - HaA1, being dated to 1200-1100 BC.

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Events Archive

Event dedicated to the traditional Swedish holiday, Santa Lucia

December 11, 2017

The Embassy of Sweden to the Republic of Moldova celebrated St. Lucia's Day on 11th November 2017 at the National Museum of History of Moldova - one of the most important cultural traditions in Sweden, which announces the Christmas. Lucia is an ancient mythical character who has the role of bringing light into the darkness of the Swedish winters; therefore she is also called the Queen of Light.

The event started with the speech of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to Chișinău, Mrs. Signe Burgstaller, who spoke about the significance of Santa Lucia holiday. The speech was followed by a special musical moment performed by the Swedish choir "Carl Gustaf's Pop". Young people dressed in white dresses with red belts around the waist and burning candles in their hands sang traditional songs and carols for the delight of the visiting public. The tradition says that the candles symbolize the fire that refused to take on the life of Saint Lucia when the young woman was sentenced to death by being burned alive.

At the event was opened the exhibition „Sweden, from A to Ö", which presents the Swedish alphabet in an attractive and fun visual way.

Guests could also serve traditional Swedish food (ginger cookies and sweets) and drinks (glögg).