#Exhibit of the Month

Throughout time, people have "worn" their teeth as some of their most precious ornaments. Precisely because of this, in many cultures, teeth have undergone changes countless times, acquiring various shapes and colors.

To this day, such local traditions are known in Bali as a rite of initiation for young people between the ages of 16 and 18. Such a practice symbolizes the entry into adult life. Such a procedure is believed to pacify six basic spiritual sins (among them greed, lust, avarice). And for this, six teeth are filed, including the fangs. The women of the Mentawai tribe, from the island of Sumatra, practice carving and sharpening their teeth, being convinced that this is the only way they become attractive. The procedure is performed without anaesthesia, by a local shaman, who, to make the ceremony as painful as possible, uses a chisel with a sharpened and blunt edge. The given ritual has been practiced for millennia at the request of entire generations of girls.

A human mandible with traces of such a ritual was discovered in the settlement of Cobîlnea "Stația" (Cobîlea village, Șoldănești district, year 1986) attributed to the Noua culture (late period of the Bronze Age, XV-XIII centuries BC). ). As a result of the anthropological analysis of the object, it was proven that the mandible belongs to a young man of European race, aged between 18 and 20 years old. The importance of this discovery lies in the rendering of an unusual practice for the communities of the Noua culture and in general for the prehistoric human populations that populated the Carpatho-Danubian-North Pontic space, namely - dental filing. The four incisor teeth are sectioned in half lengthwise, an operation performed shortly before the individual's death. It is not excluded that the mandible belonged to an allogene, which as a result of unknown circumstances arrived in this space and came into contact with the local population. But to verify such a hypothesis, a series of analyzes are needed (DNA, isotopic, 14C).

The grinding marks observed on some areas of the mandible do not exclude its use as a cult attribute (pendant) after the death of the individual.

Virtual Tour

Services

Admission to Exhibitions

Entrance fees:

Permanent exhibition:

Adults - 10 MDL
Pensioners, adults with moderate disabilities / disability of the 3rd degree (with valid certificates) - 5 MDL
Students (with valid certificates) - 5 MDL
School students - 2 MDL

Temporary exhibitions and the Treasure Room:

adults - 10 MDL
students - 5 MDL
pupils - 3 MDL

Free admission:

Preschool children (under 7 years), children from residential institutions, children (under 18 years) with disabilities and their accompanying, adults with severe and obvious disabilities (disability of the 1^st and 2^nd degree), military conscripts, official and cultural delegations (within the opening hours of the museum), employees of the national museum network, Ministry of Culture, and national institutions in the field of cultural heritage, ICOM and ICOMOS card holders

Free admission for all visitors: the last Saturday and Sunday of every month

Closed: Friday, 1, 7, and 8 January, 8 March, first and second day of Easter, 1 May, 27 and 31 August

Guided Tours

Guided tours are available on request in Romanian and Russian, for groups of 5 - 30 people or individual visitors. Reservations are required at least 24 hours in advance, by phone (022240426) or e-mail (muzeuldeistorie@gmail.com): specify the date and time, the type and size of the group, and the language.

Costs of guided tours:

For a group of 5 - 30 people:

Adults - 50 MDL
Students - 30 MDL

Guided tours in foreign languages:

Adults - 100 MDL
Students - 80 MDL

Guided tours are free for children from residential institutions and military conscripts

Taking Photographs in the Museum

Costs:

• in exhibition rooms (for personal use, without flash) - 15 MDL;
• objects of the permanent exhibition - 10 MDL for an ordinary exhibit, 80 MDL for an unique exhibit;
• objects from the collection - 30 MDL for a published exhibit, 100 MDL for an unpublished exhibit, 100 MDL for an unique published exhibit, 150 MDL for an unique unpublished exhibit;
• photography of the Museum exhibit items for reproductions оn calendars, postcards, envelops, etc. - 200 MDL for an item;
• services of the Museum Photographic Laboratory - 30 MDL for a cliché, 35 MDL for a black-and-white photograph (9x13-18x24cm), 45 MDL for a color photograph (9x13-20x30cm);
• photocopying of a document - 10 MDL.

Photography or photocopying of the Museum exhibit items by juridical persons is possible only with the permission from the Museum administration, obtained in written form.

Video Filming in the Museum

Costs:

• in exhibition rooms, physical persons, for personal use - 40 MDL, with additional illumination - 80 MDL;
• in exhibition rooms, juridical persons (per hour) - 300 MDL for documentary, 150 MDL for educational film, 400 MDL for feature film, 400 lei for promotional video. If exhibits are taken separately, filming of every item must be paid as well.

For video filming in the Museum juridical persons must obtain the permission from the Museum administration, in writing.

Loan of Exhibit Items

Costs for an exhibit item / a day:

• loan of exhibit items for filming, etc.: 200 MDL;
• loan for exhibitions, except institutions of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Moldova: 70 MDL.

Individuals can take exhibit items on loan with the written permission from the Museum administration, providing the observance of the Regulations on Registration and Preservation of Movable Cultural Heritage. Museum staff member accompanies the items.

Expert Examination of Cultural Values

Verbal examination:

• in the Museum: 40 MDL for an object;
• within the city limits: 50 MDL for an object;
• outside the city, traveling and accommodation costs at the expense of a client: 150 MDL for an object.

Written examination:

• in the Museum: 52 MDL for an object;
• within the city limits: 65 MDL for an object;
• outside the city, traveling and accommodation costs at the expense of a client: 195 MDL for an object.

Library

The Museum Library’s collection includes more than 10,000 books on a wide range of subjects, such as archaeology, history, museum studies, and scholarly reference works of interest to the Museum staff. The Library is also available to the public.

Costs:

to join the library: 10 MDL;
to borrow a book: 5 MDL / a day;

• to take a book for photocopying: 2 MDL.

Assistance of Museum Specialists

The Museum offers professional consultations and practical assistance in the field of archaeology, history, and museum studies, to physical persons and institutions.

Rent of Museum Space

The 1^st floor hall and the temporary exhibition room may be rented for temporary exhibitions, scientific and cultural events. For additional information and reservations, contact the Accounts Department, by phone: + 373 (22) 23-82-69, or the Deputy Director for Public Relations, by phone: + 373 (22) 23-83-13.

Museum Shop

In the Museum Shop can be purchased publications concerned archaeology and history of Moldova, exhibition catalogues, booklets and museum guides, and replicas of exhibit items are available.