#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 “Sybir - Prison of the Nations”

August 29, 2025

On August 29, 2025, the National Museum of History of Moldova hosted the Opening of the exhibition "Sybir - Prison of the Nations", developed as a result of cooperation between the Sybir Memorial Museum (Muzeum Pamięci Sybiru) in Białystok, the National Museum of History of Moldova and the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in the Republic of Moldova.

In his opening address, the General Director of the National Museum of History of Moldova, dr. hab. Eugen Sava, pointed out the historical context of the dramatic events reflected in the exhibition approach: "It began on September 1, 1939 with the German attack on Poland, to which fascist Germany and the Soviet Union then aligned themselves, and conquered a large part of Poland. Assassinations and deportations of Poles followed. In the spring of 1940, the Soviets, the NKVD, assassinated thousands of Polish officers in Katyn".

The opening speech from the partner institution was delivered by the director of the Sybir Memorial Museum in Białystok, dr. hab. Wojciech Śleszyński, who mentioned the opportunity to unite the efforts in promoting our common history: "We present the destinies of Poles and Moldovans. It is very important, especially now, when there is war in Ukraine, to talk more about our common history".

The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Chisinau, which supported the organization of the opening at the National Museum of History of Moldova, referred to the building of a European memory in our countries and encouraged the exhibition's tour in the localities of the Republic of Moldova. "A commemorative exhibition in the context of marking the European Day of Honoring the Memory of the Victims of All Totalitarian Regimes. It is an action that resonates with the European policy of promoting memory. It is important for us that we are carrying out the project in partnership with the Sybir Memorial Museum, recently awarded the most prestigious European Award," said the Ambassador of Poland to the Republic of Moldova, H.E. Tomasz Michał Kobzdej.

The sources of the photographs and oral history testimonies presented to the general public through the exhibition approach come from the collection of the Sybir Memorial Museum, the collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova, Tomasz Kizny's GULAG album and the public domain.

The exhibition "Sybir - Prison of the Nations" can be visited until September 29, 2025, at the National Museum of History of Moldova, Chisinau, str. 31 August 1989 121 A, first floor hall.

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