Unveiling Equine Pathologies from an Iron Age Ritual Deposit: Health, Management and Biomechanical Stress in the Protohistoric Horses of Casas del Turuñuelo (Badajoz, Spain).

Overview

• This research analyzes the health, management, and biomechanical stress in Iron Age horses found in a ritual deposit at Casas del Turuñuelo, Spain, revealing how these horses were used and cared for during the 5th century BCE.

Introduction and Research Context

• Equids (horses, donkeys, and related animals) played a significant economic and symbolic role in Iberian Iron Age society.
• Despite this importance, detailed information on their health and management during the protohistoric period is scarce.
• The site of Casas del Turuñuelo in Badajoz, Spain, dating to the 5th century BCE, presents a rare well-preserved collection of equid remains from a ritual deposit.
• This study aims to reconstruct patterns of pathology and biomechanical stress on these horses to better understand their life conditions and usage.

Materials and Methods

• 31 individual equid skeletons were subjected to macroscopic paleopathological examination using established diagnostic criteria.
• A subset of 7 individuals underwent computed tomography (CT) scanning of thoracic and lumbar vertebrae to deepen the analysis of skeletal changes.
• Both visible bone changes and internal skeletal features were assessed to detect signs of stress, disease, or mechanical strain.

Key Findings: Pathologies and Stress Indicators

• Dental Health:
  • Enamel hypoplasia was observed, indicating episodes of systemic stress during tooth development.
  • Abnormal wear on the second premolars suggested chronic mechanical irritation.
  • Hyperostosis (excess bone growth) of the diastema (gap between teeth) was found, also related to mechanical stress, possibly from bitting or other equipment.
• Skeletal Indicators:
  • Thoracolumbar spondylosis deformans (degenerative spinal changes) was present, pointing to repetitive strain or axial loading stress.
  • Enthesiopathic changes (bone changes where tendons and ligaments attach) in limbs suggest repeated biomechanical stress, consistent with traction or heavy work activity.
  • Metapodial synostoses (fusion of certain limb bones) in occasional specimens further support cumulative traumatic or biomechanical stress.

Interpretations and Implications

• The combination of dental and skeletal pathologies indicates these horses experienced systemic health stresses and chronic mechanical irritation likely related to handling practices such as bridling and possibly load-bearing work.
• Skeletal changes suggest the horses were used intensively, subject to repetitive strain and heavy workload, possibly including traction (pulling carts or loads) or other demanding labor.
• The horses were likely kept and managed in ways that required prolonged and physically challenging use before their ritual deposition at this site.
• This assemblage provides rare early evidence of equine workload, health status, welfare conditions, and husbandry strategies in southwestern Iberian protohistory.
• The study adds valuable insights into early horse management and the functional roles horses played in Iron Age societies beyond symbolic or mere economic significance.

Conclusion

• The research demonstrates the potential of archaeological and paleopathological methods—combined with modern imaging like CT scans—to reconstruct the lived experiences of ancient horses.
• These findings illuminate the complex interactions between humans and horses in the Iron Age, showing that horses endured significant biomechanical stresses reflective of their important economic and ritual roles.
• This study enriches our understanding of animal management practices in protohistoric Iberia and underscores the importance of integrated approaches to studying past human-animal relationships.