The exposed object, an "askos" type ceramic vessel, comes from the tumulus necropolis near the village of Ciumai, Taraclia district. The vessel was discovered in 2015 in a cenotaph tomb attributed to the Jamnaja culture, dated to the early Bronze Age (ca. 3300-2600 BC).
The vessel, with an obviously asymmetrical configuration, is hand-moulded from quality clay paste, having a smooth brown surface with gray spots. The body of the vessel is provided with a pronounced protrusion and a truncated neck with a wider opening towards the mouth. The vessel has a stem and is ornamented with three pairs of symmetrically placed relief appliqués. The height of the bowl is 15.5 cm, the diameter of the mouth is 11.4 cm, the diameter of the body is 15 cm and the diameter of the base is 7.5 cm. Such vessels in the archaeological literature are known as "askos" vessels, the respective term being of ancient Greek origin, denoting one of the primitive containers of the period - the bellows made of animal skin.
In prehistoric times, among some peoples, the bellows was transposed into ceramics, in these cases the basic features of the archaic leather vessel were preserved, acquiring a prominent convex shape with a stem and a flat bottom. From the original appearance of the bellows, the asymmetric mouth corresponding to the animal's neck has been preserved, and sometimes three or four legs, corresponding to the appendages of the flayed skin from the animal's legs. These vessels have lost their original zoomorphic character, entering as a new form in the inventory of Neo-Eneolithic ceramics. The first vessels of this type are attested in Greece, in the early Neolithic (ca. 5000-4500 BC) having the shape of cups or cups. In the Neo-Eneolithic Carpatho-Balkan cultures, the type of Aegean askos of short or tall form, with or without legs and with a handle, is found. Less often, they are provided with two mouths (one for filling and one for emptying) or they are off-center and provided with strangely shaped mouths. In the space between the Carpathians and the Dnieper, only tall forms of simple askos, without zoomorphic elements, are known. Askos-type vessels are present in various prehistoric cultures, especially in Southeast Europe and Anatolia.
Being often discovered in association with cult inventory, askos vessels could be an important indicator of use in religious ritual practices. Along with the zoomorphic, anthropomorphic and rhyton-type vessels (roughly conical container from which, in some ceremonies, liquids were drunk or poured), the askos were included in the category of vessels intended for worship, being related to libations (ritual act that consisted of tasting and then pouring a cup of wine, milk, etc. as homage to the deity).
The results of the archaeological investigations at the civil settlement Saharna „Dealul Mănăstirii” (2008 campaign)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. III [XVIII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
In this study are presented the results of the archaeological investigations at the early Hallstattian settlement Saharna „Dealul Mănăstitii”. The research at this site in 2008 were done at 2 sections: no. 4-5. The aim of these investigations was to study the ditch situated south of the defensive system of Saharna Mare fortress and which was found already in the past years. The result was the discovery of two hearths – complex 19-20, two dwellings – complexes 21, 26. The pits 16-19 and the ditch on a surface of 10 m were investigated. The material found in the closed complexes and the ditch have a cultural-chronologic attribution to Cozia-Saharna culture. The ditch explored on a length of 10 m and depth varying from 0,5 to 1,2 m was in fact an extension of the previously investigated ditch.
The result provided the possibility to establish that both its triangular form and the wide rim and narrow bottom represents nothing less than the traces of a wood chassis of a palisade. It is likely that the central and northern part of Saharna Mare promontory was initially strengthened with a palisade which included also the north-eastern part of „Dealul Mănăstirii” settlement. G.D. Smirnov, who had discovered for the first time this ditch, assumed that it was a supplementary defense ditch situated on a parallel line with the fortress wall and ditch.
In order to confirm whether the ditch was contemporary with the fortress’ fortification line, in the southern part of the fortress’ central bastion was traced the section no. 5. Although some material was discovered, the investigations of the cultural layer from the area have shown a complete lack of possible ruins of a known settlement. It means that the central bastion was built up after the abandonment of the first defense line of the site from Saharna Mare.
Andrei Nicic
Tudor Soroceanu, Die Kupfer- und Bronzedepots der frühen und mittleren Bronzezeit in Rumänien/ Depozitele de obiecte din cupru și bronz din România. Epoca timpurie și mijlocie a bronzului, 5 Archaeologia Romanica (Hrsg. R. Harhoiu, S. Hansen, C. Gaiu
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VII [XXII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Andrei Corobcean
Some aspects of the problem of reflection of ethnic distinctions in stylistic variations of artefacts
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IV [XIX], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Ion Niculiță, Andrei Nicic
Early Iron Age settlement of Saharna-Ţiglău. Preliminary research results
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. II [XVII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Andrei Corobcean
Archaeological vestiges of the 5th-3rd centuries BC in the Carpathian-Dniester region as a source of ethnic interpretation. Historiographical issues
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VIII [XXIII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Ion Niculiță, Andrei Nicic
Archaeological research conducted at the settlement Saharna-Dealul Mănăstirii
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. I [XVI], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
The exposed object, an "askos" type ceramic vessel, comes from the tumulus necropolis near the village of Ciumai, Taraclia district. The vessel was discovered in 2015 in a cenotaph tomb attributed to the Jamnaja culture, dated to the early Bronze Age (ca. 3300-2600 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.