#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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Events Archive

Opening of the exhibition "About the Polish language"

September 26, 2023

On Tuesday, September 26, 2023, the opening of the exhibition "About the Polish language" took place, organized by the Polish Institute in Bucharest in partnership with the National Museum of History of Moldova in the context of the European Day of Languages. This holiday was established in 2001 by the European Union and the Council of Europe and is celebrated annually on September 26. The European Day of Languages aims to bring to the public's attention the great linguistic variety of Europe, to promote cultural heritage and linguistic diversity, to encourage people of all ages to learn foreign languages, as well as to promote language-related professions.

At the opening of the exhibition, H.E. Mr. Tomasz Kobzdej, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Chisinau, Mrs. Katarzyna Zalaszewska, project coordinator of the Polish Institute in Bucharest and Mrs. Livia Sîrbu, deputy director of the National Museum of History of Moldova made welcoming speeches. The speakers pointed out the importance and role of the mother tongue for each person, community and nation, referring to the national values of each state. In addition, they emphasized the importance of collaborations between these institutions in order to strengthen cultural relations between Poland and the Republic of Moldova.

The exhibition consists of 15 banners, which present the uniqueness of the Polish alphabet and language in their entire splendor, offering us in a fun way (through text and drawing) to learn the secrets of the Polish language, the history of the language, the basic rules of pronunciation, as well as numerous curiosities. Everyone can find out, among other things, what is the oldest sentence written in Polish, what are the "strange" letters of the Polish alphabet, as well as onomatopoeic expressions, which sound funny and literally whistle, squeak and creak on the exhibition panels.

It is very important to understand that the exhibition not only allows us to discover more information about Polish, but also encourages us to learn this interesting language that is spoken by more than 40 million people around the world.

The exhibition can be seen on the fence of the National Museum of History of Moldova from September 26 to October 26, 2023.