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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2022; 12(12); 1549; doi: 10.3390/ani12121549

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

Abstract: 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 C 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.
Publication Date: 2022-06-15 PubMed ID: 35739886PubMed Central: PMC9219477DOI: 10.3390/ani12121549Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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This research study examines the burial tradition of horses in Lithuania from the Early Roman period until the late 14th century AD by analyzing the bone size, age, and dates of over 200 horse remains in Lithuanian institutions. The findings indicate a link between horse body size and military usage, potential non-local breed, and the owner’s social status, and suggest that changes in horse size and age may inform discussions on cavalry formation, combat tactics, and the status of horsemen in Lithuania.

Introduction

  • The research paper introduces the longstanding tradition of horse burials in Lithuania that spanned from the Early Roman period up till the late 14th century AD, making it the longest-lasting custom of this nature in Europe, leaving behind roughly 2000 known horse burials.
  • The study includes the osteometric (bone measurement) data, age, and burial dates of over 200 horses found in Lithuanian cemeteries and castles dating back to between the 3rd and 14th century AD.
  • All the horse remains examined in this research are currently housed in Lithuanian institutions.

Purpose of Research

  • The main goal of the research was to study the dynamics of horse body size to validate hypotheses linking the large body size of horses to their military use, non-local breed, and the high social status of their owners.
  • The research also aimed to publish the AMS C dates of 13 horses initially assigned to the Migration period, aiming for a possible correction in existing chronology.
  • Additionally, the abundance of data gave an opportunity to assess the development and changes in horse size and age in Lithuania between the 3rd and 14th C AD.

Key Findings

  • Osteometric analyses showcased that horses from the Late Roman-post-Migration-period were significantly larger compared to Viking and medieval Lithuanian horses.
  • The research suggests that the semi-slender-legged 118-125-cm-tall horse dominating the Viking period is most consistent with the local breed.
  • While horses during the 3rd-11th century AD were small compared to their Central and Western Europe or Scandinavian counterparts, the Middle Ages witnessed the presence of more variety and expansion of taller horses, between 140-150 cms in height.

Insights for Future Research

  • The abundance of small horses with saddles and other equipment being buried even during the medieval ages suggests renewed debates and provides a direction for future research on the formation of the cavalry, the tactics involved in combat, and the social composition of horsemen in Lithuania.

Cite This Article

APA
Piličiauskienė G, Kurila L, Ežerinskis Ž, Šapolaitė J, Garbaras A, Zagurskytė A, Micelicaitė V. (2022). Horses in Lithuania in the Late Roman-Medieval Period (3rd-14th C AD) Burial Sites: Updates on Size, Age and Dating. Animals (Basel), 12(12), 1549. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12121549

Publication

ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 12
PII: 1549

Researcher Affiliations

Piličiauskienė, Giedrė
  • Department of Archaeology, Vilnius University, Universiteto St. 7, 01513 Vilnius, Lithuania.
Kurila, Laurynas
  • Department of Archaeology, Vilnius University, Universiteto St. 7, 01513 Vilnius, Lithuania.
Ežerinskis, Žilvinas
  • Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Saulėtekio Ave. 3, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania.
Šapolaitė, Justina
  • Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Saulėtekio Ave. 3, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania.
Garbaras, Andrius
  • Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Saulėtekio Ave. 3, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania.
Zagurskytė, Aurelija
  • Department of Archaeology, Vilnius University, Universiteto St. 7, 01513 Vilnius, Lithuania.
Micelicaitė, Viktorija
  • Department of Archaeology, Vilnius University, Universiteto St. 7, 01513 Vilnius, Lithuania.

Grant Funding

  • S-MIP-19-67 / Lietuvos Mokslo Taryba

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

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