#Exhibit of the Month

The artifact is a battle axe made from magmatic rock (diabase) of gray-brown color. It was accidentally discovered in 1966 within the territory of Aluniș village, Rîșcani district. Based on its morphological characteristics, the artifact can be attributed to the Catacomb culture (29th-22nd centuries BCE).

The axe features a massive, elongated naviform body with slightly pronounced shoulders, a short and narrow edge that is flat and circular in cross-section. The blade is slightly curved. The hole was drilled in the maximum width of the object. It is circular in shape with a diameter of 2.2 cm. The surface of the artifact is meticulously polished, worked with great care, and shows no signs of damage or chipping.

Dimensions: Length: 20.0 cm; Maximum width: 8.4 cm; Edge diameter: 5.0 cm; Blade width: 7.0 cm; Weight: 2.3 kg.

Stone battle axes are characteristic of the Catacomb culture communities and are most often found as grave goods, deposited in tombs. Their presence in funerary complexes suggests a multifaceted functionality: weapons, social symbols, and ritual objects. Initially used as weapons, the axes became social symbols for their owners, later acquiring votive significance when deposited in tombs to serve the deceased in the afterlife.

The social symbolic function of stone battle axes is indicated by the high-quality rocks used for their manufacture and the exceptionally meticulous craftsmanship. The large dimensions of the axe from Aluniș support this hypothesis and distinguish it from other examples.

The discovery of stone battle axes outside a funerary complex may indicate their votive deposition. It is difficult to imagine that these exceptionally well-crafted pieces, made from high-quality rocks transported over great distances, could have been abandoned or lost accidentally. It is far more likely that they were deposited for magical-religious purposes, a possibility that may also apply to the stone axe discovered at Aluniș.

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Events Archive

Training workshop conducted by Vanessa Vaio, an expert in heritage interpretation

September 28, 2023

On Thursday, September 28, 2023, the Blue Room of the National Museum of History of Moldova hosted the training workshop "Innovative approaches to the interpretation of cultural heritage for the development of a tourism product through the prism of immersive experiences" conducted by Ms. Vanessa Vaio, an expert in heritage interpretation with more than 28 years of experience in this field. Vanessa Vaio is the Italian coordinator of Interpret Europe - the European Association for Heritage Interpretation. The opening of the event was attended by Ms. Svetlana Pociumban, head of the Heritage Department of the Ministry of Culture, who emphasized the role of museums in modern society and the importance of promoting and developing cultural heritage through education.

The workshop was organized within the European Heritage Days by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Moldova and the National Museum of History of Moldova, in partnership with the Public Association "ICOM Moldova National Committee" and the National Association for Inbound and Internal Tourism of Moldova, with the strategic support of USAID Rural Competitiveness and Resilience Project.

During the seminar, Vanessa Vaio shared her experience in the development of interpreting programs, interpreting planning, development and production management of advertising materials; the use of technology and multimedia in interpreting; creating content for different categories of visitors; developing accessible and inclusive interpretation strategies; integrating the results of scientific research into interpretation strategies.

The workshop was attended by more than 20 staff members from national and local museums, who develop educational programs and who will apply in practice the acquired knowledge in the field of public relations, so that the services provided to visitors meet European standards.

The National Museum of History of Moldova has the honor of organizing and conducting such important events, the purpose of which is to make the work of museum workers more efficient, increase the attractiveness of museum products, and also return museums to the ranks of cultural institutions that occupy leading positions in the country and abroad.

#Exhibit of the Month

Stone Battle Axe Discovered at Aluniș, Rîșcani District

Training workshop conducted by Vanessa Vaio, an expert in heritage interpretation

September 28, 2023

#Exhibit of the Month