In search of the ‘great horse’: A zooarchaeological assessment of horses from England (AD 300–1650)

Ameen, Carly; Benkert, Helene; Fraser, Tamsyn; Gordon, Rebecca; Holmes, Matilda; Johnson, Will; Lauritsen, Malene; Maltby, Mark; Rapp, Karina; Townend, Tess; Baker, Gary P.; Jones, Laura May; Qui, Camille Vo Van; Webley, Robert; Liddiard, Robert; Sykes, Naomi; Creighton, Oliver; Thomas, Richard M.; Outram, Alan K.

doi:10.1002/oa.3038

Cited by 15 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…This is in line with Irish sources, which point out that a good horse did not have to be large [ 94 ]. A recent study regarding the English medieval horses demonstrates similar results [ 95 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 66%

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Horses in Lithuania in the Late Roman–Medieval Period (3rd–14th C AD) Burial Sites: Updates on Size, Age and Dating

Piličiauskienė

Kurila

Ežerinskis

et al. 2022

Animals

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The tradition of burying horses in Lithuania lasted from the Early Roman period until the late 14th C AD. It was the longest-lasting custom in Europe, which has left about 2000 known horse burials. This paper publishes the osteometric data and age of horses found in Lithuanian cemeteries and castles of the 3rd–14th C AD, over 200 individuals in total. These are the remains of all the horses still stored in Lithuanian institutions. The paper discusses the dynamics of horse body size in order to test previously suggested hypotheses regarding the relationship between large horse body size and its military use, possibly non-local breed, and high social status of the owner. Moreover, we are publishing the AMS 14C dates of 13 horses previously assigned to the Migration period. The research results corrected the existing chronology. The abundant data also allowed an assessment of the development of the size and age of the horses in Lithuania between the 3rd and 14th C AD. Osteometric analyses have shown that Late Roman–post-Migration-period horses were unusually large compared to the Viking and medieval horses in Lithuania. Meanwhile, we suggest that the semi-slender-legged 118–125-cm-tall horse, which predominated in the Viking period, is the most consistent with the local horse type. In general, the horses in Lithuania in the 3rd–11th C AD were small compared to those in Central and Western Europe or Scandinavia. More significant changes can be observed in the Middle Ages. In the 12–14th C AD, there was a much greater variety of horses and the expansion of taller (140–150 cm) individuals. However, the continued abundance of small horses in the medieval times, found buried with saddles and other equipment, allows one to renew the debate on the formation of the cavalry, the tactics of combat, and the social composition of horsemen in Lithuania.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 66%

“…In Lithuania, a more significant increase in metatarsals robusticity can be observed in the Vilnius Lower castle material of the late 14th–early 16th C AD ( Figure 7 ). In England, such a process can be observed as early as the 13–14th C AD and reflects a trend towards the development of an early type of heavy horse [ 95 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Horses in Lithuania in the Late Roman–Medieval Period (3rd–14th C AD) Burial Sites: Updates on Size, Age and Dating

Piličiauskienė

Kurila

Ežerinskis

et al. 2022

Animals

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“…Further combined studies, including osteometry and genome analyses, together with archeological context of equids bone remains will be able to recognize and describe the medieval warhorse (Ameen et al, 2021). Moreover, the search for such individuals shall be moved from strongholds and battlefields to knackers yards and domestic middens, due to different use and deposition of equid bone material from other domesticated species (Ameen et al, 2021;Chr oszcz et al, 2021) (Baxter, 1998). Finally, the analysis of equine bone remains from early medieval sacrifices in Prussia, showed the existence of small-and medium-sized animals (approximately 132 cm) (Wycz ołkowski & Makowiecki, 2009).…”

Section: Regional Comparison Of Results Within Historical Polish Terr...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It shall be stressed, that horses breeding and training was influenced not only by the biological and cultural factors, but also by animal behavioral characteristics and changing battlefield tactics. Further combined studies, including osteometry and genome analyses, together with archeological context of equids bone remains will be able to recognize and describe the medieval warhorse (Ameen et al, 2021). Moreover, the search for such individuals shall be moved from strongholds and battlefields to knackers yards and domestic middens, due to different use and deposition of equid bone material from other domesticated species (Ameen et al, 2021; Chrószcz et al, 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Withers height estimation in medieval horse samples from Poland: Comparing the internal cranial cavity‐based modified Wyrost and Kucharczyk method with existing methods

Chrószcz

Baranowski

Janowski

et al. 2021

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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Horse withers height is frequently estimated based on skeletal remains during archeozoological analyses. The routinely used methods (Vitt and Kiesewalter) do not allow withers height estimation without complete long bone and skull osteometry.The modified Wyrost and Kucharczyk formula is based on the internal dimensions of the cranial cavity. This method can be used even when the neurocranium is the only surviving portion of the skull. Earlier investigation demonstrated that it can be used as a substitute for the Kiesewalter method. The statistical analyses of the results achieved using metapodial bones are strongly correlated with the results achieved using the Wyrost and Kucharczyk method. A unique horse skull assemblage, dating back to medieval times, was unearthed from several archeological sites in Poland (Silesia, Kuyavia, Grater Poland, Western Pomerania, and Eastern Pomerania). This study aimed to estimate the withers height of this assemblage using the modified Wyrost and Kucharczyk method. Subsequently, these estimations were compared with accessible literature data from both medieval Poland and surrounding territories.The literature indicates that the horses from Western Pomerania, Silesia, and Kuyavia were larger than the animals from Eastern Pomerania. Our results show that horses from Western Pomerania were larger than those from Silesia, Kuyavia, and Eastern Pomerania. In both cases, the Western Pomeranian horses are the largest. In general, according to our results and the accessible literature, it seems true that Polish medieval horse populations can be described as medium-and small-sized, according to Vitt's classification. The modified Wyrost and Kucharczyk formula can be used as an additional or alternative method of calculating withers height in routine archeozoological studies.

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“…Another accepted (yet somehow arbitrary) framing for horses, in this case, might be the distinction of “elite” from “ordinary” types of horses that indicates a threshold of 1400-mm shoulder height [ 26 ], designating our individual as an “ordinary” one placed at the upper limit of this class. The situation points to the class of rouncies and destriers (as mentioned mainly for medieval samples) [ 41 ], clearly focusing, in fact, on the physical qualities a horse might have.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphological Characteristics of a Horse Discovered in an Avar-Period Grave from Sâncraiu de Mureș (Alba County, Romania)

Gudea

Martonos

Cosma³

et al. 2022

Animals

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Archeozoological studies provide an insight into human–environment relations, bringing important information on the morphology of the animal and the role of the animal and its functions. The purpose of this study was to reveal the morphological characteristics of the horse identified in an 8th century BC Avar cemetery dated, as it resulted from the investigation carried out on the materials presented to the Anatomy Lab of Department of Comparative Anatomy. The cleaning and conditioning of the materials were performed in the lab, followed by anatomical and osteometrical study. The identification of the species, the osteometrical interpretation and the assessment of age at death constituted the basis of the main conclusions. Based on the morphological and metrical data, we concluded that the fragments originated from a single young horse individual (Equus caballus) no older than 2.5 (2–2.5 years age span) included into class 5 of height (Vitt scale) with slender extremities. An overview of the available data (horse morphology) from similar sites in Romania and neighboring territories (Hungary and Croatia) is presented, with the intention of a general framing for the characteristics of the horses used by the Avar populations.

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In search of the ‘great horse’: A zooarchaeological assessment of horses from England (AD 300–1650)

Cited by 15 publications

References 32 publications

Horses in Lithuania in the Late Roman–Medieval Period (3rd–14th C AD) Burial Sites: Updates on Size, Age and Dating

Horses in Lithuania in the Late Roman–Medieval Period (3rd–14th C AD) Burial Sites: Updates on Size, Age and Dating

Withers height estimation in medieval horse samples from Poland: Comparing the internal cranial cavity‐based modified Wyrost and Kucharczyk method with existing methods

Morphological Characteristics of a Horse Discovered in an Avar-Period Grave from Sâncraiu de Mureș (Alba County, Romania)

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