Understanding early horse transport in eastern Eurasia through analysis of equine dentition

Across Eurasia, horse transport transformed ancient societies. Although evidence for chariotry is well dated, the origins of horse riding are less clear. Techniques to distinguish chariotry from riding in archaeological samples rely on elements not typically recovered from many steppe contexts. Here...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Antiquity 2021-12, Vol.95 (384), p.1478-1494
Main Authors: Taylor, William T.T., Cao, Jinping, Fan, Wenquan, Ma, Xiaolin, Hou, Yanfeng, Wang, Juan, Li, Yue, Zhang, Chengrui, Miton, Helena, Chechushkov, Igor, Bayarsaikhan, Jamsranjav, Cook, Robert, Jones, Emily L., Mijiddorj, Enkhbayar, Odbaatar, Tserendorj, Bayandelger, Chinbold, Morrison, Barbara, Miller, Bryan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ancient civilizations
Animals
Archaeology
Bones
Bronze Age
Carriages
Deer
Enamel
Gait
Horse riding
Horses
Steppes
Teeth
Transportation
Vertebrae
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Summary:Across Eurasia, horse transport transformed ancient societies. Although evidence for chariotry is well dated, the origins of horse riding are less clear. Techniques to distinguish chariotry from riding in archaeological samples rely on elements not typically recovered from many steppe contexts. Here, the authors examine horse remains of Mongolia's Deer Stone-Khirigsuur (DSK) Complex, comparing them with ancient and modern East Asian horses used for both types of transport. DSK horses demonstrate unique dentition damage that could result from steppe chariotry, but may also indicate riding with a shallow rein angle at a fast gait. A key role for chariots in Late Bronze Age Mongolia helps explain the trajectory of horse use in early East Asia.
ISSN:0003-598X
1745-1744
DOI:10.15184/aqy.2021.146