The Roman bronze situla comes from a collection of archaeological artifacts confiscated at customs and transferred to the holdings of the National Museum of History of Moldova in 2009. Its place of discovery remains unknown.
A situla (Latin for "bucket") is a metal vessel-usually made of bronze-shaped like a pail and equipped with two movable handles at the top, traditionally used for mixing wine with water. The handles are attached to the vessel via two decorated ears that are welded to the rim.
The body of the situla is truncated-conical in shape and features two decorative bands with small circular patterns formed by hammering, located just below the rim.
Its base is double-layered: the inner bottom is hemispherical and hammered, while the outer bottom is flat and lathe-made. The outer base is welded to the inner bottom, serving as the vessel's foot-support.
This object was crafted using a combination of casting, hammering, and partial lathe-finishing. Dimensions: Maximum height - 31.7 cm; Maximum diameter - 22.8 cm; Base diameter - 13.5 cm
Situlae of this type originated in the Roman Empire and were later adopted by various ancient peoples, including those from the northwestern Pontic region.
Abstract: The article "On museumification of the historical site Camp of Swedish King Charles XII at Varnița" considers the problem of residence of the Swedish King Charles XII in Moldova, on the right bank of the Dniester, in Bender and Varnița, as well as the need for research and lighting this common segment of Moldavian, Turkish, and Swedish history through the museumification of the historical site. Particular attention is paid to the plans of arrangement of the Swedish king's camps at Bender and Varnița drawn up during the 19th century, especially to the plan created in 1840 by Bogdan Eitner, which now is stored in the collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova (Chișinău). In considering the issue a new approach was used, which is particularly reflected in the emphasizing of the role of certain figures and institutions in preserving the memory of the Swedish King Charles XII in the period of time between the two wars. There are also original the prospects concerning the educational role that could carry the museumification of the historical site. E. Ploșnița believes that protection of the historical site through its museumification will offer a retrospective of history, thus stimulating memory that contributes to individual cultural identity. The author hopes that Sweden and the Republic of Moldova, the local community and the authorities will be able to use the common history segment associated with the name of the Swedish king Charles XII. In recent years employees of the National Museum of History of Moldova put forward a lot of ideas and proposals for the rehabilitation of the historical site Camp of Swedish King Charles XII at Varnița. Thus, in 2007-2008 A. Cornețchi drafted the project Historical Heritage, which included the involvement of experts from the Republic of Moldova, Sweden and Romania in the restoration of the Varnița site. For some reasons the project was not implemented. At the end of 2015, in the framework of the European CHOICE program (Cultural Heritage Opportunity For Improving Civic Engagement), Doctor in history Elena Ploșnița on behalf of the public association of Varnița developed and presented the project "Historical site Camp of Swedish King Charles XII at Varnița - development and promotion". This project aims to achieve several important goals: - Scientific and public development of the historical site and its introduction into the cultural and tourist use; - Conservation and museumification of the historical site, including the restoration of the monument to the King of Sweden; - An innovative interpretation of the cultural heritage of the historical site; - Mobilization of the local community in the protection of cultural heritage and strengthening the role of local public organizations in the process. The project received a grant and will be implemented in the period from April 2016 to April 2017.
List of illustrations: Fig. 1. Plan of the camp of the Swedish King Charles XII at Varnița drawn up by B. Eitner, 1840. Fig. 2. Monument to the Swedish king Charles XII at Varnița, 1932. Fig. 3. Monument to the Swedish king Charles XII at Varnița, 2015. Fig. 4. Archaeological research at Varnița, on the site of the camp of the Swedish King Charles XII, 1993. Fig. 5. Ceramic vessel discovered during archaeological excavations at Varnița in 1993.
Elena Ploșnița
National Museum of Archaeology and History – from utopia to reality
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. I [XVI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie Chișinău, 2007
Elena Ploșnița
Moments of reference from the activity of the National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. III [XVIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Elena Ploșnița
Entrance ticket and museum marketing
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IX [XXIV], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie Chișinău, 2015
Elena Ploșnița
On a museum exhibition “The Universe of Calendars”
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. V [XX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Elena Ploșnița
Some considerations regarding the designing of a permanent exposition of the history museum
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. II [XVII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
The Roman bronze situla comes from a collection of archaeological artifacts confiscated at customs and transferred to the holdings of the National Museum of History of Moldova in 2009. Its place of discovery remains unknown....
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.