Museum of the University "Al. I. Cuza” - IAŞI

CC BY-SA 4.0
Name:
Museum of the University "Al. I. Cuza” - IAŞI
General profile:
Main profile:
History
Collection(s):

The institution, as a department of the University, aims to exploit its dual heritage, given by the academic vocation and archaeological research. The ”Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University Museum functioned since 1985 within the Rector’s Office. Thanks to Octav Davideanu, former chief-secretary of the University, many objects valuable for the academic life were preserved, though not all of them became available for the public. A significant part of documentary patrimony and objects remained in several personal archives, while a series of exhibits and documents were fragmented and given in the custody of some institutions, such as Petru Poni Museum, The Museum of the Union, St...ate Archives etc. Some of them have been recovered in recent years through donations and purchases, along with getting in custody. The current location of the institution offers the academic collection a generous space, organized both by thematic criteria and in relation to various historical stages of the higher education in Iasi. Thus, a Rector’s Office is presented, with proper furniture, the first academic medals, various seals and some of the university symbols, namely the silver hammer and trowel used on May, 23rd 1893 at the solemnity of settling the fundamental stone of the University Palace in Copou. A substantial area is allotted to the historical evolution of the institution, as its official opening and the anniversaries of 1910/1911, 1960, 1985 and 2010 are reminded of by representative exhibits (the flags of the first universities, pictures of important figures, official documents, medals, photos, publications). Most part of the academic collection presents the evolution of disciplines, aiming to illustrate the achievements in knowledge and scientific carrier of important figures. Various laboratories, the Museum of Natural History, the Botanical Garden and the University Central Library are properly presented, thus revealing the importance in the research plan of each of these components of academic space. A special attention is paid to former students of the university, who are depicted in terms of activities developed both in formal space and out of it. International relations of the oldest Romanian university are outlined in a separate frame. In addition to furniture, meant to create an academic feeling, the atmosphere is audio-visually backed up by Romanian and English films about the history of the institution. The Cucuteni Civilization Museum: In 1916, through the efforts of Orest Tafrali, the first entity for preserving the antiques belonging to the heritage of the “Alexandru Ion Cuza” University of Iasi from archeological excavations at Cucuteni culture was founded. After World War Second these objects entered the custody of the History Museum of Moldavia, an institution subordinated to the Ministry of Culture. During the postwar period, the research undertaken by archeologists from the Faculty of History and the Institute of Archeology of Iasi, namely Radu Vulpe, Mircea Petrescu-Dîmboviţa, Marin Dinu, Attila László, Dan Monah, Nicolae Ursulescu and Vasile Cotiugă led to the founding of a new collection, representative for material life and spiritual manifestations that made this ancient civilization known. Some of the most valuable pieces, revealed by several archaeological diggings, and exhibits from the Collection of Cucuteni for the 3rd Millennium Foundation are now brought together in the “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University Museum. The area dedicated to Cucuteni civilization is organized in a modern manner, so that images depicting scenes of daily life are illustrated by original exhibits. The central room introduces guests to the fascinating domain of archaeological research through a major reconstruction, which shows various stages of exploration, from archaeological diggings to restoration of pieces revealed. The entire space presenting the Cucuteni civilization emphasizes creations belonging to ancient people, which are organized in the exhibition area according to their specificity. Thus, the visitors first enter the art room, with famous spiral motif vessels, painted in red, black and white, then the trades room, with various tools and weapons and a dwelling specific to the epoch, and end the tour in the treasure room, with priceless exhibits, such us ornaments and objects of worship. This latter area bears a special feeling, due to the winding form of clay walls and the ceiling playing for the starry sky under which the inhabitants of this part of Europe formed a civilization 7000 years ago. A great audio-video material rounds out the original manner of organizing this area, by presenting the results of archaeological research, particularly the experimental ones, so that the entire assembly depicts, in an authentic manner, a fragment of the past.


County:
Iaşi
Locality:
Iaşi
Address:
Strada Titu Maiorescu, nr. 12
Postal code:
700460
Access:
Behind "Titu Maiorescu" student campus.
Time table:
Tuesday- Friday: 8:00 - 16:00;
Saturday, Sunday: 10:00 - 15:00;
Monday: closed
Phone :
0232.201.102; 0232.202.451
E-mail address:
Administrative subordination:
„Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University
Importance:
Local
Museum code:
808030
Director:
Conf. univ. dr. Neculai Bolohan
Classified :