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.
Complex of antique amphorae of the 1st half of the 6th century BC from the pit no. 11 of the “ashpit” no. 13 of the Western Bilsk Fortification
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VIII [XXIII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
This publication presents materials from a closed complex in the "ashpit" no. 13 of the Western Bilsk fortified settlement. In the fi lling of one of the pits there were found 285 fragments of antique amphorae. Among them it was possible to identify fragments of 13 Klazomenian amphorae and one Milesian amphora. We divided all fragments of rims belonging to the Klazomenian amphorae into 3 variants. In our opinion, all the considered fragments of amphorae could fi nd the closest analogies among the vessels of the 1st half of the 6th century BC. List of illustrations:
Fig. 1. Bilsk settlement location: 1 - View of the Northern Black Sea region with the location of the Bilsk settlement; 2 - ancient settlement in Bilsk; 3 - the plan of the western fortification with locations of "ashpits". Fig. 2. Plan and profile of the pit number 11 of the "ashpit" 13. Western fortifi cation of the Bilsk settlement. Fig. 3. Fragments of antique amphorae, pieces of clay plastering, walls of pots, and bones of animals in the filling of pit number 11. View from the west. "Ashpit" number 13. Western fortifi cation of the Bilsk settlement: 1 - filling of the top of the pit; 2 - filling of the bottom of the pit. Fig. 4. Accumulations in the pit number 11 of the "ashpit" 13, the Western fortifi cation of the Bilsk settlement: 1 - accumulation in the western part of the pit; 2 - accumulation in the eastern part of the pit. Fig. 5. Fragments of rims of the Klazomenian transport amphorae from the accumulation in the pit number 11 of the "ashpit" 13, the Western fortifi cation of the Bilsk settlement: 1-6 - fragments from accumulation; 7 - fragment of a rim found on the bottom of the pit. Fig. 6. Fragments of the Klazomenian transport amphorae from the accumulation in pit number 11 of the "ashpit" 13, the Western fortifi cation of the Bilsk settlement: 1, 2, 4-15 - fi ndings from the accumulation; 3, 16 - finds from the bottom of the pit. 1-6 - rims of amphorae; 7-8 - feet of amphorae; 9-16 - fragments of handles. Fig. 7. Fragments of amphorae from the accumulation in the pit number 11 of the "ashpit" 13, the Western fortification of the Bilsk settlement: 1-5, 7, 8 - Klazomenian amphorae, 6 - Milesian amphorae. 1-5 - fragments of handles; 5 - fragment of a neck; 6 - fragment of a rim. Fig. 8. Klazomenian transport amphora's wall decorated with red stripes from the accumulation in the pit number 11 of the "ashpit" 13, the Western fortifi cation of the Bilsk settlement. Fig. 9. Table of rims of the Klazomenian transport amphorae from the pit number 11 of the "ashpit" 13, the Western Bilsk Fortifi cation.
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 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
