Spotted phenotypes in horses lost attractiveness in the Middle Ages.
Abstract: Horses have been valued for their diversity of coat colour since prehistoric times; this is especially the case since their domestication in the Caspian steppe in ~3,500 BC. Although we can assume that human preferences were not constant, we have only anecdotal information about how domestic horses were influenced by humans. Our results from genotype analyses show a significant increase in spotted coats in early domestic horses (Copper Age to Iron Age). In contrast, medieval horses carried significantly fewer alleles for these phenotypes, whereas solid phenotypes (i.e., chestnut) became dominant. This shift may have been supported because of (i) pleiotropic disadvantages, (ii) a reduced need to separate domestic horses from their wild counterparts, (iii) a lower religious prestige, or (iv) novel developments in weaponry. These scenarios may have acted alone or in combination. However, the dominance of chestnut is a remarkable feature of the medieval horse population.
Publication Date: 2016-12-07 PubMed ID: 27924839PubMed Central: PMC5141471DOI: 10.1038/srep38548Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article investigates the historical preference for horse coat colors and patterns, revealing that while spotted horses were popular in ancient times, solid coats became the favorite in the Middle Ages.
Research Context and Methodology
- This research is anchored in the understanding that horse coat color has been a crucial factor in the value assigned to the animals since prehistoric times, especially since human domestication began. The scientists note that the preferences likely varied over time and that apart from anecdotal evidence, there has been little methodical analysis to understand these historical trends.
- The researchers employed genotype analysis to study these trends. Genotype analysis involves studying the genetic makeup of an individual to understand its traits and lineage. In this case, this approach was used to discern the changes in the coat color patterns across different historical periods.
Findings and Interpretation
- The study shows a substantial increase in the prevalence of the spotted coat phenotype from the Copper Age until the Iron Age, signifying that these patterns were favoured during these periods.
- However, during the Middle Ages, the researchers found a significant drop in the alleles responsible for the spotted phenotype, indicating a shift in preference towards solid coat colors, especially the chestnut color.
- The researchers suggest several reasons for this change. Pleiotropic disadvantages associated with the spotted phenotype – where one gene could lead to multiple observable characteristics, which may have undesirable effects, could be one factor. The reduced need to distinguish domestic horses from their wild counterparts could be another reason. The religious prestige associated with certain colors or patterns may have contributed as well, and finally, changes in warfare techniques and weaponry could also have affected horse color preferences. However, the exact reasons remain speculative, and none of these factors can be definitively established as the primary cause for the shift.
- The predominance of the chestnut color during the Middle Ages is a significant finding of this research, highlighting distinct changes in human preferences over time.
Cite This Article
APA
Wutke S, Benecke N, Sandoval-Castellanos E, Döhle HJ, Friederich S, Gonzalez J, Hallsson JH, Hofreiter M, Lõugas L, Magnell O, Morales-Muniz A, Orlando L, Pálsdóttir AH, Reissmann M, Ruttkay M, Trinks A, Ludwig A.
(2016).
Spotted phenotypes in horses lost attractiveness in the Middle Ages.
Sci Rep, 6, 38548.
https://doi.org/10.1038/srep38548 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Department of Evolutionary Genetics, 10315 Berlin, Germany.
- German Archaeological Institute, Department of Natural Sciences, Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
- Centro de Ciencias de la Complejidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico.
- Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und Archäologie Sachsen-Anhalt - Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte, 06114 Halle (Saale), Germany.
- Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und Archäologie Sachsen-Anhalt - Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte, 06114 Halle (Saale), Germany.
- University of Potsdam, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, 14476 Potsdam, Germany.
- The Agricultural University of Iceland, Faculty of Land and Animal Resources, IS-112 Reykjavik, Iceland.
- University of Potsdam, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, 14476 Potsdam, Germany.
- Archaeological Research Collection, Tallinn University, Rüütli 10, 10130 Tallinn, Estonia.
- National Historical Museums, Contract Archaeology, 226 60 Lund, Sweden.
- Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Laboratory of Archaeozoology, Madrid, Spain.
- Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, 1350K Copenhagen, Denmark.
- The Agricultural University of Iceland, Faculty of Land and Animal Resources, IS-112 Reykjavik, Iceland.
- Humboldt University Berlin, Faculty of Life Sciences, Albrecht Daniel Thaer-Institute, 10115 Berlin, Germany.
- Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Archaeology, 949 21 Nitra, Slovak Republic.
- University of Potsdam, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, 14476 Potsdam, Germany.
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Department of Evolutionary Genetics, 10315 Berlin, Germany.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Computer Simulation
- DNA, Ancient / analysis
- Horses / physiology
- Monte Carlo Method
- Phenotype
- Pigmentation
- Time Factors
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