摘要：The archaeological sites near the village of Kaptol near Požega are among the most important complexes of the Hallstatt culture in this part of Europe. Tumulus 1, situated at the eastern edge of the necropolis of the Kaptol-Gradci site was excavated during 2001 and 2002. The tumulus was of regular shape with an average height of 1,5 and a diameter of 12-14 m. It is a closed grave assemblage with a drywall grave chamber in the centre, measuring approximately 4,5 x 4 m and 1,25 m high on average. The chamber was probably an outer casing of the wooden coffin, i.e. a chamber in which the deceased was buried. It seems that the chamber was conceptually divided into two parts. A heap of ash with the bones of the deceased as well as numerous grave goods were found in its interior. The analysis of the metal finds and numerous ceramic remains dates this tumulus to the Ha C1 period, that is, the first half of the 7th century B.C., while the radiocarbon dates yielded an age between 810-420 B.C. In addition to other finds, a small ceramic vessel filled with seeds was found in the northwestern corner of the grave chamber. It was cracked in several places and by virtue of its features it also belongs to the Hallstatt period. The first assumption was that it formed part of grave goods, but the composition of plant remains was puzzling – these consisted of small seeds of exclusively wild plants (Euphorbia cyparissias/dulcis and Euphorbia sp. – 36%; Vicia/Lathyrus type 1 and 2 – 29%; Trifolium type 1 and 2 – 17%; Geranium dissectum – 12%; Viola sp. – 1%; Carex sp., Scirpus sp. etc. – 5%). An altogether more unusual fact was that a considerable part of the seeds, which are supposedly 2700 years old – germinated. The AMS-dating of ungerminated seeds showed an age of less than 50 years, which means that this was a recent contamination. As this is a closed grave complex without any material evidence that the vessel was introduced later during subsequent historical periods, the human factor has been discarded. As the plant remains are almost exclusively connected with the Hallstatt ceramic vessel, at first the possibility was rejected that the heap was produced by animal action. However, further analysis established that in all likelihood these were the remains of a subterranean ant nest – the cracked Hallstatt vessel was used by ants as a shelter, similar to a stone, a crack in the rock etc., and a good cover for their store of seeds.
