#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 photo exhibition "Building Bridges Among Communities"

September 5, 2023

On September 5, at the National Museum of History of Moldova, was opened the photo exhibition "Building bridges between communities", a window to human connections and empathy through visual histories - a fascinating collection of images made by the participants of the second edition of the National Geographic Photo Camp in Moldova.

At the opening ceremony of the exhibition, Jeff Bryan, Director of the USAID Moldova Mission, and Steven Fisher, the British Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, emphasized the importance of social cohesion and communication, including visual communication, in a modern, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society. Likewise, Eugen Sava, the General Director of the National Museum of History of Moldova, encouraged the young people to continue creating and come up with as many photo collections as possible.

Of course, among the guests of honor at the launch event were the camp participants themselves and the creators of the images exhibited at the museum, who shared their impressions, emotions and experiences during the five days spent at Comrat, in UTA Gagauzia. Some of them held a camera for the first time, others radically changed their vision of what a photo should look like or what their mission in a community is. And most importantly, they all made friendships that continue.

The second edition of the National Geographic photography camp in Moldova took place between May 15-19, 2023, in the town of Comrat. Most of the Gagauz community lives in this region in the south of the country, but also other ethnic groups. The National Geographic Photo Camp was more than an educational experience, it was a platform for social cohesion, understanding and tolerance. Young people from all corners of Moldova, including refugee communities in Ukraine, from diverse ethnic and linguistic backgrounds, met and collaborated in a unique way, together with five international photographers from National Geographic.

The photo exhibition "Building bridges between communities" can be visited until September 19, in Room no. 1 of the National Museum of History of Moldova, 31 August 1989 street, 121A.

#Exhibit of the Month

Clay Vessel discovered in Speia Village, Dubăsari District

Opening of the photo exhibition "Building Bridges Among Communities"

September 5, 2023

#Exhibit of the Month