Traces of the Old Market were found close to Maternity Hospital No. 2 of Chisinau. Under the paving, there was discovered a cemetery that is supposed to be one of the oldest cemeteries in Chisinau, dating from the 16th century. The discovery was made during archeological research carried out by experts of the Teacher Training University “Ion Creangă” with the assistance of the General Division of Architectural, Urbanism and Land Relations of the Chisinau Municipal Council.
In a news conference at IPN, the head of the Architecture Division Svetlana Dogotaru said that this is a project of the Chisinau City Hall that was launched this year following the allocation of funds for archeological research. “It is actually for the first time that such research is financed and conducted with budget funds in Chisinau and even in the Republic of Moldova. We had the occasion of cooperating with “Ion Creangă” University that today presents the first research results. We are examining five sites and works started on two of them – “Constantine and Helen” Church, around the Visterniceni cemetery, and the Old Market of the Chisinau Fair, close to Maternity Hospital No. 2 . The made discoveries confirmed the investigation is valuable,” stated Svetlana Dogotaru.
Coordinator of the archeological excavations Sergiu Musteață, doctor habilitate, of “Ion Creangă” University, said that Chisinau city had a number of markets, but one of them was central, the Old Market. This was the economic, cultural and religious center of Chisinau. Regrettably, it was demolished in the second half of the 20th century. Immediately after World War II, the new administration of the city carried out works to demolish constructions and to reshape urban configuration and the given area with the Old Market was flattened. Maternity Hospital No. 2 was erected there. In May, the building of this hospital and the adjoining park were recognized as a historical monument.
According to Sergiu Musteață, the traces of the cemetery found under the paving of the market are probably the most important discovery, possibly of the year. This could be one of the oldest cemeteries of Chisinau dating from the 16th century. The over ten graves that were examined included coins. Their state is not the best but effort will be made to clean and conserve them so as to determine the burial period.
Ion Ursu, a member of the research team, said that no written document mentions the existence of a medieval cemetery in that area, either in Chisinau village or in Buiucani village. “We will yet find out. We consider the cemetery dates from the start of the 161th century but it can be older. We examined only 14 square meters and identified 14 graves. Only ten could be examined. They belonged to women, men and children. All the graves are Christian, with proper coffins, of trapezoidal form. Practically each grave contained by a silver or copper coin, but this can be hardly read owing to the soil,” related the archeologist.
According to him, such a monument-cemetery deserves to be fully examined so as to determine the demographic or even material situation as the anthropological examination of skeletons provides more evidence that the chronological examination or their affiliation to a particular community. The osteological research enables to determine not only the age and sex, but also the cause of death, the habits and even the surgery underwent by a person.
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