EARLY IRON AGE ━━━━━ MEDIEVAL MOLDAVIA ━━━━━ 20TH CENTURY
THE TREASURY SPACE
Treasury Hall is located in the museum’s basement and preserves the original layout conceived during the building’s initial construction. The space was specifically designed to display small objects of exceptional historical, artistic, and symbolic value, offering optimal conditions for their preservation and presentation.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL TEXTILES
A significant section of the exhibition is dedicated to archaeological textiles, uncovered through research conducted in Suceava County from 1955 to the present. These pieces are extremely rare, as the region’s humid climate led to the deterioration of textile fibers. The surviving fragments are therefore invaluable for understanding local crafts and medieval clothing.
MEDIEVAL GARMENTS AND ACCESSORIES
Displayed here are garments and accessories from medieval times, discovered in the Câmpul Șanțurilor area near the Princely Fortress of Suceava, as well as in important archaeological sites and places of worship, including Probota Monastery, the Church of Saint John the Baptist in Siret, Mirăuți Church, and Saint Demetrius Church in Suceava. Other finds come from churches founded by prominent boyar families in localities such as Bălinești, Horodniceni, and Cumpărătura-Nemirceni.
SILVER TREASURES
The garments showcase a remarkable variety of types and cuts: coats, anteris, tunics, dresses, shirts, caps, hats, and scarves, complemented by necklaces and belts. They are made from luxurious fabrics such as taffeta, brocade, damask, velvet, and silk, reflecting the high social status of their owners and Moldova’s cultural connections with Europe and the Orient during the medieval period.
GOLD APPLIQUÉS
A highlight of the exhibition is the treasure of jewelry from Solonețu Nou, consisting of two necklaces and three silver bracelets. Another notable find is the monetary treasure from Pârteștii de Jos, which includes over 400 silver coins—Dacian imitations of tetradrachms of Philip II of Macedon. These two treasures, discovered about 10 kilometers apart, belong to the wider context of votive practices typical of the Late La Tène period, manifested through intentional deposits of silver jewelry and coin hoards, broadly dated to the 3rd–2nd centuries BC.
THE VOIVODAL NECROPOLIS OF RĂDĂUȚI
Of particular interest are gold clothing appliqués discovered at Cajvana, dated to the early 6th century BC, belonging to the Podolo-Moldavian cultural group of the early Iron Age. The six appliqués—five circular and one triangular—were found bent, a result of having been attached to textile or leather supports that decayed over time, deforming the metal pieces.
PROBOTA MONASTERY
Another remarkable feature is the finds from the Church of Saint Nicholas in Rădăuți, a 14th-century monument considered the first voivodal necropolis of Moldova. The funerary collection is exceptionally rich, with the emblematic piece being a gold ring weighing approximately 25 grams, initially attributed to Voivode Bogdan I and later to Lațcu. The ring’s square-shaped bezel is engraved with the name of Allah, with lion heads in the corners symbolizing power and authority. Accompanying it are rings with turquoise, semi-precious blue-green stones, rings with vegetal motifs, and appliqués bearing heraldic symbols.
MEDALS, DECORATIONS, JEWELRY AND WEAPONS
An important chapter of the exhibition focuses on archaeological discoveries from Probota Monastery, built in 1530 by Petru Rareș. Excavations revealed nearly 30 graves, providing jewelry and clothing accessories relevant to aristocratic life and 16th-century funerary practices.
TWO MILLENNIA OF TREASURES
The Treasury Hall also houses an impressive collection of medals, decorations, jewelry, and weapons dating from the 17th to the 20th centuries, reflecting the evolution of metalwork, social change, and the aesthetic tastes of different historical periods.
Through the diversity and significance of its exhibits, the Treasury Hall offers a comprehensive overview of the concept of a “treasure” in Suceava County, bringing together material evidence spanning over two millennia of history.
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF HISTORY
