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.
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
Abstract
As a result of archaeological investigations carried out in June 2015 near the village of Mana, there were found three fortified settlements: Mana III, Mana IV, and Mana V. The hill fort of Mana III, an area of about 0,18 ha, is located on the promontory at a distance of 1 km south of the village. From the east and west sides the fort was protected by steep slopes of the promontory, and from the north and south sides – by “ramparts” and ditches. On the surface of the settlement there were found fragments of the Thraco-Getic hand-made pottery and fragments of Greek amphorae, due to which the settlement can be attributed to the Thraco-Getic period. Also, at the site there was investigated a cremation burial typical for the PoieneștiLukashevka culture. The hill fort of Mana IV is located 0.8 km south-east of the village, on the terrace, which has a steep slope to the west. From the north, east and south it was protected by an earthen “rampart”. The area of the monument is about 7 hectares. The fortress of Mana V, an area of about 0.5 hectares, is located on a hill 0.5 km east of the village. It has a circular shape and was protected by a circular “rampart”. All these sites are located in the basin of the Vatici River, right tributary of the Răut. Besides the hill forts near the village of Mana, in the region there were previously found four fortified settlements (Tabăra, Morozeni, Dâșcova, Isacova) and two open settlements (Isacova, Seliște) relating to the Thraco-Getic period. Also, in the Vatici Basin several sites of the Poienești-Lukashevka culture were investigated – the settlements of Lukashevka I, Lukashevka II, Mana I, and the burial ground of Lukashevka III.
List of illustrations: Fig. 1. Spread of archaeological sites of the second half of the 1st millennium BC in the Vatici Basin. Fig. 2. Location of fortifications near the village of Mana. Fig. 3. Mana III. 1 - layout of the settlement; 2 - the promontory on which the fort is located (view from the northeast); 3 - canyon on the eastern outskirts of the hill fort (view from the south); 4 - “rampart” and ditch on the north side of the hill fort (view from the west). Fig. 4. Mana III. The archaeological materials found on the surface of the settlement: 1-5 - hand-made pottery; 6, 7 - fragments of Greek amphorae; 8, 9 - fragments of clay plastering. Fig. 5. Mana III. Objects made of iron found on the surface of the settlement. Fig. 6. Mana IV. 1 - layout of the settlement; 2 - “rampart” of the hill fort (view from the east); 3 - “citadel” (view from the west). Fig. 7. Mana V. Orthophotomap of the settlement (by Google Earth).
Ion Tentiuc, Valeriu Bubulici
The hoard of early medieval tools and weapons found at Sadova-Călăraşi, the Republic of Moldova
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XIII [XXVIII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Ion Tentiuc, Valeriu Bubulici
Finds of coins in the late medieval cemetery of the Măzărache Church in Chișinău (excavations of 2010)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. V [XX], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Aurel Zanoci
Zur Typologie und Entwicklung der Befestigungsanlagen östlich der Karpatengebirge im 12./11.-3. Jh. v. Chr.
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. V [XX], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Octavian Munteanu, Ion Tentiuc
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
Ion Tentiuc
Profesorul, savantul și omul de cultură Gheorghe Postică la 60 de ani
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VIII [XXIII], 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
