The exhibit represents a fragment from a unique amphora discovered in 1988 in a ceramic kiln from the Chirileni III settlement (Sîngerei district), attributed to the Cucuteni-Tripolie archaeological culture stage CII (5th-4th millennia BC).
The ceramic fragment with painted human and geometric representations constitutes about 50% of the upper part of an amphora, made of clay paste without impurities. It is burned in an oxidizing environment, with a reddish color in the section. The inner surface of the vessel is covered with a pink-whitish color layer, and the smoothed and polished exterior is covered with a yellowish-gray engobe start. The body of the amphora is spheroidal with four pyramidal cakes on the shoulder, and the neck is high frustoconical with a short outwardly turned lip. The dimensions of the bowl: lip diameter - 18 cm; maximum body diameter - 43-45 cm; neck height - 13 cm; height of exposed fragment - 43 cm; the estimated total height of the vessel is 55-60 cm. Thickness at the lip - 6-7 mm, at the neck - 9-11 mm, and at the body - 10-13 mm.
The outer surface of the amphora in a proportion of about 4/5, except for the lower part, is bicolorly decorated with black and brown paint, the brush being used as a tool, which can be felt from the specific application of the lines. Two brushes were most likely used. The ornament is divided into three horizontal registers that surround the vessel dividing the interior into metopes. The decoration is composed of lines arranged vertically, horizontally or obliquely forming geometric compositions of the net type.
The special significance of the amphora resides in the representation in the middle register of the painting of the stylized scene of a female ritual dance. The scene painted on the body of the amphora represents the image of a group made up of 9 female characters assisted by two dogs and 3 snakes. The female images are represented schematically, with the emphasis on long legs, mini-trapezoidal skirts, short stretched bodies, folded dancing hands and pointed heads.
Vessels with painted anthropomorphic representations are very rare, being around 140 images of this kind known so far in the entire area of spread of the Cucuteni-Tripoli culture.
Based on the analysis of the shape of the vessel, the specific decoration and the context of the discovery, it can be admitted that the amphora from Chirileni belongs to the cult of the Mother Woman, the Great Goddess worshiped by the Eneolithic populations.
A house of the 15th century explored in the fortified settlement of Horodca Mică
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VIII [XXIII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
The archaeological investigations at the Getae fortifi ed settlement of Horodca Mică revealed some materials from the medieval period. In the central part of its internal space a one-room dwelling with the fl oor deepened into the ground was found, characterized by two phases of habitat At the fi rst stage it was warmed by a clay oven located in the middle of the east wall, and at the second - by a rounded open hearth located in the central part of the room (fig. 3).
In the filling and on the fl oor of the house, besides rather interesting collection of ceramics, there were found the following objects: an iron knife (fig. 6/5), an sub-rectangular iron buckle (fi g. 6/4), a leaf-shaped arrowhead (fig. 6/2) and a fragment of a whetstone with hanging hole (fi g. 6/1). On the fl oor of the house there was also found a medieval coin (fig. 6/6) issued by Moldavian Prince Iliaș (1432-1443), which was attributed to type V and dated approximately from 1442.
The discovery of the coin makes possible dating the dwelling with the fi rst half of 15th century. Further investigation of the internal space of the Getae fortifi ed settlement will show whether it was an isolated dwelling or it was part of the medieval settlement arranged on the place of an ancient fortress by virtue of the military-political circumstances.
List of illustrations:
Fig. 1. Horodca Mică. 1 - Location of the site of Horodca Mică; 2 - topographic map and the location of the excavations in 2006-2011. Fig. 2. Horodca Mică 2011. Section no. VII. Plan of section with discoveries within squares A6-A10 and southern profile. Fig. 3. Horodca Mică 2011. Plan and section of the medieval dwelling. Fig. 4. Horodca Mică 2011. Section no. VII. Complex no. 117/Medieval dwelling: 1, 2 - remains of the medieval dwelling; 3, 4 - remains of the furnace from the dwelling. Fig. 5. Horodca Mică 2011. Section no. VII. Complex no. 117/Medieval dwelling: 1, 2 - pillar pits inside the dwelling; 3, 4 - carbonized remains of pillars supporting roof; 5, 6 - remains of the hearth discovered in the central part of the dwelling. Fig. 6. Horodca Mică 2011. Section no. VII. Inventory objects from Complex no. 117/Medieval dwelling: 1 - whetstone; 2 - arrow head; 3 - bronze board (overlay-?); 4 - buckle; 5 - knife; 6 - coin (1 - sandstone; 2, 4, 5 - iron; 3 - bronze; 6 - silver). Fig. 7. Horodca Mică 2010. Section no. VI: 1-4 - silver coins discovered in the cultural layer.
Aurel Zanoci, Octavian Munteanu, Ion Tentiuc, Valeriu Bubulici
New archaeological discoveries of the Iron Age sites near the village of Mana, Orhei District
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IX [XXIV], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică Chișinău, 2015
Ion Tentiuc
Aspects of funeral rite and ritual in the Prut-Dniester region in the early Middle Ages (The Molești-Ialoveni necropolis)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. I [XVI], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică Chișinău, 2007
Ion Tentiuc
Sergiu Matveev, Procesele etno-culturale din spațiul carpato-nistrean în secolele II-XIV. Istoriografia sovietică. Chișinău: Pontos, 2009, 230 p. text + 5 tabele
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IV [XIX], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Ion Tentiuc
Les carreaux des poêles avec l’images heraldiques de Căușeni
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. III [XVIII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Octavian Munteanu
Les etapes d’édification de la fortification de Horodca Mică
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VII [XXII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
The exhibit represents a fragment from a unique amphora discovered in 1988 in a ceramic kiln from the Chirileni III settlement (Sîngerei district), attributed to the Cucuteni-Tripolie archaeological culture stage CII (5th-4th millennia BC)...
The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
