Even though MNIT will be closed between November 30 and December 2, we invite you to visit us virtually through the "MNIT AT HOME" program.

In this context, we propose the online exhibition "CLUDENI AND THE GREAT UNION FROM 1918", available by accessing the link: https://bit.ly/3ASDW69

The exhibition commemorates the completion of the Romanian state edifice through the Union of Transylvania with Romania proclaimed in Alba Iulia on December 1, 1918. At the same time, a series of personalities from Cluj, men and women, young and old, who contributed to the creation of the modern state of Romania, a fact for which they fully deserve our knowledge, appreciation and gratitude.

UNESCO World Heritage Day in Romania (November 16) is marked by the announcement of one of the most important archaeological discoveries in recent years in the area of ​​the Dacian Citadels in the Orăștiei Mountains.

​In the last part of the archaeological campaign from the year 2024, in Costești-Cetătuie, two limestone foundations of a hitherto unknown temple were discovered in situ. The vestiges of the new edifice have been identified on one of the terraces on the south-western side of the hill, in the place called Mălăiște, crossed by the ancient road.

​The first "rows of stones placed in a strict order on carefully landscaped areas" were found in the Dacian citadel here during the excavations coordinated, starting in 1924, by the professor from Cluj DM Teodorescu. After a century, the discovery of a new alignment, the fifth, prompts the resumption of the subject related to the constructions with a religious purpose from Costești-Cetățuie, but also from the rest of the area of ​​the capital of the Kingdom of Dacia.

​In the coming years, archaeological research will be extended to document the planimetry of the temple, its chronology, the construction technique and, last but not least, to obtain information regarding the activities carried out in its perimeter.

The archaeological research was carried out under the auspices of Babeș-Bolyai University (Faculty of History and Philosophy) and was financed by the Ministry of Culture and Hunedoara County Council, through the General Directorate of Monuments Administration and Tourism Promotion of Hunedoara County, in a partnership with The National History Museum of Transylvania, the Dacian and Roman Civilization Museum and the Mureș County Museum.

1. Limestone bases of the columns of the temple in Mălăiște (Costești-Cetățuie).

2. Limestone bases of the columns of the temple in Mălăiște (Costești-Cetățuie).

3. Limestone bases of the columns of the temple in Mălăiște (Costești-Cetățuie).

4. "Rows of stones placed in a strict order" discovered by DM Teodorescu (image from the Site Archive, after C. Daicoviciu).

Today we mark 52 years since the adoption of the World Heritage Convention by UNESCO member states. The purpose of the Convention is to preserve for future generations cultural and natural heritage of outstanding universal value as part of the world heritage of humanity.

The Convention's most important tool is the World Heritage List, which currently includes over 1.200 properties. This year, they added "The Frontiers of the Roman Empire - Dacia". We are proud of MNIT's significant contribution to this success, along with National Heritage Institute and by numerous other institutions, with the support of the Ministry of Culture, through the LIMES National Program.

Thus, one of the largest and most complex segments of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire joins other segments already included in the UNESCO heritage. However, this is not the end of the road. MNIT is still committed to contributing to the effort to protect, conserve, research and enhance the 277 sites of the "Frontiers of the Roman Empire - Dacia".

In the picture – the moment of the inscription of the "Frontiers of the Roman Empire - Dacia" on the UNESCO World Heritage List, at the 46th meeting of the World Heritage Committee in New Delhi, India, July 27, 2024.

Read more

PRESS RELEASE:

Cluj-Napoca, November 4, 2024: The National Museum of Transylvanian History (MNIT), under the patronage of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Culture, and with the support of the City Hall of Simleu Silvania, inaugurated the exhibition "FORGOTTEN WARRIORS AND ETERNAL ORNAMENTS: MIGRANT BARBARIANS DURING THE CRISIS OF THE EMPIRE ROMAN (V–VI CENTURY B. CHR.)”. The exhibition is one of the most significant events organized by MNIT, presenting unique worldwide treasures, which include jewelry, medallions, gold and silver vessels, borrowed from the collections of more than ten museums in the country and abroad.

"Through this approach, MNIT continues its collaboration with world-class cultural institutions, the most important artefacts of the exhibition being part of the treasure from Simleu Silvaniei, discovered in two stages (1797, 1889) and located in the collections of the Art History Museum (Kunsthistorisches Museum ) in Vienna and of the Hungarian National Museum (Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum) in Budapest. The second hoard from Simleul Silvaniei will remain for a shorter period, until the beginning of March 2025. This hoard is considered one of the most important finds from the migration period, both regionally and Europeanly, and artifacts from the two hoards are exhibited for the first time in Transylvania, their place of discovery." says Felix Marcu, MNIT Manager.

Among the exhibits is a spectacular fibula in solid gold, decorated with one of the largest faceted onyx stones, which impresses with its size and exceptional execution. The object is unique in the world and illustrates the remarkable wealth of the elites of the 5th century BC. “These large gold fibulae formed part of the imperial insignia and were important accessories of the Roman emperor's parade dress. They served to fasten the mantle (clamys) on the shoulder, as is represented in the mosaic in the church of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna on the vestment of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I or the Ostrogothic king Theoderic the Great. The onyx fibula from the Simleu Silvaniei hoard is the most imposing piece in the category of imperial fibulae that has survived to this day." says Alpár Dobos, museographer from MNIT.

The Simleu Silvaniei hoard contains an impressive collection of fibulae. Apart from the imperial fibula with onyx, ten other pairs of fibulae are part of the hoard. These are characteristic pieces of women's clothing from the Hunnic era and were worn in pairs, on the shoulders. Fibulae with a semi-discoidal head and a rhomboidal foot are characterized by larger dimensions and are made of cast silver, being wrapped on the front with a gold leaf, in which precious stones are embedded. These smaller sized stones form geometric motifs in the polychrome style characteristic of the Hunnic period. 

The exhibition also houses pieces from the Pietroasele hoard, known to the general public as "Cloșca cu puii de aur", gold pieces from the princely tombs at Apahida and from the tomb at Florești-Polus Center (today Vivo). "We set out to present the world of these elites through the most significant archaeological discoveries, which highlight major historical and archaeological phenomena that influenced the evolution of Europe and constitute a common cultural heritage for the European community." continues Alpár Dobos.

"This project represents a cultural moment of great importance, reflecting the history and common cultural values ​​of European countries. We are pleased that we managed to form a team of specialists - architects, designers, builders and artists - who have been working for more than a year on the preparation of this exhibition. We would like to express our gratitude to all those who supported us in this endeavour, especially the Government of Romania, through the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Culture, for the financial support of the project. We invite you to visit and discover the most valuable exhibition in the museum's history!", said Dr. Felix Marcu, MNIT Manager.

The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, between 10:00 and 18:00 (last entry at 17:30), and tickets can be purchased online at: https://mnit.ro

For more details: Adrian B. Gog, PR Representative, adrian.gog@prandmore.ro, 0757355675.