The exhibit of the month for November is a rare glass goblet from the Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov cemetery, discovered in Tigheci. Dated to the second half of the 4th century AD, this remarkable artifact demonstrates the craftsmanship of the time, made from translucent greenish glass with a truncated cone shape and intricate geometric decoration. The goblet features three rows of hexagonal facets, framed by incised lines, and a row of elongated ovals under the rim, characteristics which classify it within Series VII A, according to E. Straume's classification. These ornamental traits hint at artistic influences from various regions and indicate the spread of technologies and ideas within the Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov culture.
Archaeological Context of the Discovery
The Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov cemetery at Tigheci is located in a historically complex area, positioned on the northwest slope of the Tigheci River, at the "La Lutărie" point. First identified in the 1980s following unauthorized clay extraction, the cemetery has suffered considerable damage, leading to the loss of valuable artifacts and the destruction of graves. Among the objects recovered by Mr. Ion Pușcașu, founder of the Museum of History and Ethnography in Tigheci, are wheel-thrown ceramic items reflecting the traditions and techniques of communities during the Migration Period.
The site was first archaeologically investigated in 1990, when a complete inhumation grave was found, though lacking any inventory. Subsequent surveys in 2013 and 2015 by the National Archaeological Agency revealed ongoing erosion damaging the cemetery, necessitating a rescue excavation in 2017. This campaign documented and investigated five graves from the Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov culture, including the skeletal remains of a male individual estimated to have been 40 to 45 years old at the time of death, offering additional insights into the demographic structure of this community.
Cultural Significance and Comparisons
The hexagonally faceted glass goblet is among the most valuable artifacts from the Tigheci cemetery. Similar goblets are characteristic of the Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov culture and have been found in notable sites such as Târgșor and Bârlad-Valea Seacă (Romania) and Gavrilovka, Ranjevoe (Ukraine), reflecting the cultural and trade connections of this community with other centers of influence in Late Antiquity. Ancient texts and cultural parallels suggest a complex interaction zone with Hellenistic and Roman influences, reflected in luxury goods production such as this glass goblet.
What was the original structural plan of the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady in the Căpriana Monastery?)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VII [XXII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
The Church of the Assumption of Our Lady in the Căpriana Monastery is the oldest of the existing monuments of religious architecture, built in the gospodars' tradition of the medieval Moldova. Many elements of its architecture have been preserved from the time of Stephen the Great (1457-1504) and Petru Rareș (1527-1538, 1541-1546), in spite of extensive reconstruction, which was carried out in 1819-1820. However, as a result of the reconstruction the current structure of the church does not match the description given in the XIX century. The question of the original structure of the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady in the Căpriana Monastery remains unresolved and requires further investigation.
List of illustrations:
Fig. 1. Church of the Assumption of Our Lady in the Căpriana Monastery (view from the north-east).
Fig. 2. The dome and belfry of the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady in the Căpriana Monastery.
Fig. 3. Longitudinal section of the Assumption Church.
Fig. 4. Detail of the dome of the narthex.
Fig. 5. Church of St. Theodore Tyron and St. Theodore Stratelates, Iasi (1761).
Fig. 6. The western facade of the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady in the Căpriana Monastery.
Fig. 7. Plan of the Assumption Church according to archaeological investigations (after Postică, Constantinescu 1996).
Vlad D. Ghimpu
St. George’s Church in Chișinău (1819)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. I [XVI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie Chișinău, 2007
Vlad D. Ghimpu
Romanian mentions in North-Western Russia in the 11th-16th centuries (preliminary research)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IV [XIX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Vlad D. Ghimpu
Les contacts et les relations entre les Roumains et les Russes kiéviens aux IX-ième et X-ième siècles
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. II [XVII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Vlad D. Ghimpu
Canonical rules and the actual orientation of altars in early Christian churches. Ancient and early medieval places of worship in Romanian lands
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XII [XXVII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Vlad D. Ghimpu
Basarabi-Murfatlar and Corbii de Piatră – about the Crimean influence on the architecture of the Romanian churches of the early Middle Ages
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XI [XXVI], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
The exhibit of the month for November is a rare glass goblet from the Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov cemetery, discovered in Tigheci. Dated to the second half of the 4th century AD, this remarkable artifact demonstrates the craftsmanship of the time, made from translucent greenish glass with a truncated cone shape and intricate geometric decoration....
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.