Celebrating an important milestone in archaeological research, Moldova is preparing a special event for this year’s European Heritage Days.

Between 21 and 28 September, the National Museum of History of Moldova will offer an insight into Moldova's past with an exhibition dedicated to the decades-long archaeology practice in the country. Titled Millennia of civilization at Orheiul Vechi. 70 years of archaeological research, this exhibition will bring some of the unique archaeological artefacts excavated at the historic site Orheiul Vechi to the public for the first time.

The Secrets of Old Orhei

With its history spanning across millennia, Orheiul Vechi (Old Orhei) is one of the most significant archaeological sites in Europe. Containing traces of the ancient past, the site provides impressive findings about prehistoric civilizations in this part of Europe.

Old Orhei is a natural, historical, and archaeological complex in Trebujeni, Moldova, whose history dates back to the Paleolithic, Eneolithic, and Iron Age. It is a home to remnants of a pre-B.C. Geto-Dacian fortress and multiple 14th century churches and monasteries, which offer invaluable insights to the history of the region and European civilizations.

This September, the story of Old Orhei will be presented at the heart Chișinău and will be one of the highlights of European Heritage Days 2018 in Moldova.

The exhibition at the National Museum of History of Moldova will enable visitors to find out more about prehistoric and mediaeval lives and lifestyles of people living in the region. They will have an opportunity to see some of the most common objects and tools used at the time, which witness the historic connections between different cultures, particularly focusing on the commercial relations the Old Orhei people had with the Greek merchants. By reconstructing some of the vessels and artefacts found at the research site, the exhibition puts the pieces of multicultural influences together. 

The exhibition will be organised in three thematic compartments, each of which will focus on a different period in the region’s history. The first one will uncover ancient history, the second one will focus on the mediaeval period, while the third one will showcase Moldova of the 15th and 16th century.

With such a comprehensive historic overview of the site, the exhibition will be one of the outstanding European Heritage Days events this year. It will give an important contribution to this year’s heritage celebrations by tracing The Art of Heritage Sharing in Moldova to its ancient and mediaeval roots.

For more information, visit the museum’s official website.

Photo Credits: Wikipedia