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.
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
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
The Country House of the Lazo Family at Piatra. Guidelines for the museumification
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XI [XXVI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Elena Ploșnița
On the strategy of development of museums in the Republic of Moldova
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VI [XXI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
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
