Preliminary communication
A Contribution to the Understanding of Hallstatt Burial Customs – Archaeobotanical Evidence from Tumuli 13 and 14 at the Site of Kaptol, near Požega
Renata Šoštarić
; Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Hrvoje Potrebica
orcid.org/0000-0002-5474-4254
; Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Nikolina Šaić
orcid.org/0000-0002-0000-6467
; Zabok, Croatia
Antonela Barbir
orcid.org/0000-0003-3825-1596
; Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The Early Iron Age necropolis of Gradci is part of a complex archaeological site in the vicinity of the municipality of Kaptol, near Požega (Croatia). In 2007, tumulus 13 was excavated and, on the basis of a typological analysis of the artefacts discovered, dated to period Ha C2/D1. In 2010, tumulus 14 was explored. That one has been dated to Ha C2, that is, to the second half of the 7th cent. BC. During the excavations, samples for archaeobotanical analysis were taken from both tumuli; this paper presents the results of that analysis. From tumulus 13, 140 carbonized plant remains were recovered. Predominant among them were various fruits gathered from the environment, with greatest presence of common hazel (Corylus avellana). In tumulus 14, 3880 carbonized plant remains were recorded. Predominant among them were various cereal species, with a noticeable proportion of ‘fruit’ grave goods, primarily wild apples (Malus sylvestris). Grave goods of plant origin were undoubtedly very important in the Hallstatt grave ritual, but for a more precise reconstruction of the customs of the time we have to complete the ongoing analysis of finds from other tumuli within the same site.
Keywords
tumulus; cremation burial; Hallstatt; archaeobotany; Kaptol–Gradci; Croatia
Hrčak ID:
171071
URI
Publication date:
21.12.2016.
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