#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

Roundtable “Holocaust, hunger and deportations - crimes of the twentieth century”

25 January 2017

On 25 January 2017, the National Museum of History of Moldova in cooperation with "Ion Creanga" Lyceum organized a roundtable on "Holocaust, hunger and deportations - crimes of the twentieth century".

The roundtable discussions were attended by dr. Aurelia Felea, dr. Viorica Olaru-Cemârtan and PhD student Mariana Fabian, students from "Ion Creanga" Lyceum, teachers, specialists. The event was moderated by dr. Mariana Ţăranu.
At the meeting were discussed various aspects of Romanian Holocaust, reflection of Holocaust in artistic films from the MSSR. The speakers presented film fragments which were commented afterwards. This topic caused intense and contradictory discussions.

Special attention was drawn to the famine organized by the Soviets in Bessarabia and its consequences, in particular the focus was placed on famine impact on the community. The materials presented were supported by factual data, interviews and photos.

The fate of the Bessarabian Romanians in the Stalinist Gulag was reflected based on case studies and archival material. Life of the descendants of deported families in 1941 and 1949, which remained in Siberia, their occupations and ways of integration into the Siberian social environment was presented by a documentary film made in the project "Expeditions of memory". Dr. Viorica Olaru-Cemârtan, member of the project, made several comments and clarifications.

At the roundtable was presented a book exhibition.