#Exhibit of the Month

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.

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Publications

Journal „Tyragetia"

vol. X [XXV], nr. 1

Paleo-Christian churches in the Romanian area in the early Middle Ages

ISSN 1857-0240
E-ISSN 2537-6330

Vlad D. Ghimpu

Paleo-Christian churches in the Romanian area in the early Middle Ages

Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. X [XXV], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică

Keywords: places of worship, Christianity, early Middle Ages, Romanian space.

Abstract: Based on the research of many rock-hewn churches of the Romanian region, located in the Dobruja and around the Carpathian mountain range, the author notes the existence there of a number of Christian churches belonging to the early Christian period and the early Middle Ages. According to the author, the religious buildings were created for the most part of very strong material because of the highly volatile external environment, due to the pressure of the migratory and nomadic peoples. On the basis of new archaeological data it can be argued that in the territory of the future Moldova there was a diocese under the guidance of a chorbishop (bishop of rural settlements). The presence and discovery of a very valuable exhibit, which is a rare example of art, iconography and folklore heritage of Romanians in early Middle Ages (red brick with depictions), gives us the first written evidence of the presence of Christianity in this area.

List of illustrations:
Fig. 1. Plan of the Syrian Rite Church in Callatis (after Theodorescu 1963).
Fig. 2. Plan of a stone structure in Sobari (after Niculiță, Popa 2000).
Fig. 3. Stone structure in Sobari (after Popa 2001).
Fig. 4. Brick with depicted lines from Sobari. Photo.
Fig. 5. Brick with depicted lines from Sobari. Drawing.
Fig. 6. Plan of the Limanu Cave, Constanța County (after Păun 2000).
Fig. 7. Cave of St. Andrew the Apostle (after Păun 2000).
Fig. 8. The Ovidenia Cave Church of the Bistrița Monastery (after Păun 2000).
Fig. 9. The church of Bechir's Cave near Soroca.
Fig. 10. Plan of Daniil the Hermit's cave church (after Păun 2000).
Fig. 11. Cetățuia Negru-Vodă Cave Church (after Păun 2000).
Fig. 12. Butuceni cave complex (Old Orhei) (after Ghid 1998).