Just two years after evidence traced horse domestication back to 5,500 years ago, the archeological discovery of an ancient civilization in Saudi Arabia, may put horse domestication back significantly further, with the unearthing of a Neolithic horse statue.
Horses domesticated 3,500 years earlier than believed?
At a Jeddah news conference on August 24 2011, Ali Al-Ghabban, Vice-President of Antiquities and Museums at the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, announced that the newly discovered Maqar Civilization, challenges the existing theory of horse domestication. The Neolithic civilization, named Al-Maqar after the site’s location, were, Al-Ghabban says, an advanced people who used, “Methods of embalming that are totally different from known processes.”
Discoveries at the site, included a three feet tall horse statue which is calling into question the perceived domestication date of the horse. "A statue of an animal of this dimension, dating back to that time, has never been found anywhere in the world,” said Al-Ghabban, and "Will change our knowledge concerning the domestication of horses and the evolution of culture in the late Neolithic period."
New discovery disputes 2009 findings
The Saudi Arabia discovery calls into question, the findings of two years ago, when a team of archeologists from the Universities of Exeter and Bristol claimed to have uncovered the first known evidence of horses domesticated by humans. Traced back to the Botai Culture of Kazakhstan in the fourth millennium BC, according to ScienceDaily.com, researchers reported that analysis seemed to indicate that horses were bred, harnessed and even possibly milked.
The latest discovery in Saudi Arabia challenges this theory. Al-Ghabban said, "This site shows us clearly, the roots of the domestication of horses 9,000 years ago," and not as believed, 5,500 years ago in Central Asia. Saudi Arabia is of course a proud horse nation in itself, known for its affinity with and breeding of, the majestic Arabian.
Oldest remains of the Caspian breed discovered
Back in April, the Circle Of Ancient Iranian Studies (CAIS), reported that archaeologists in Gohar Tappeh, in the northern Iranian province of Mazandaran, had discovered the oldest remains of a horse identified as the Caspian, also called the Mazandaran Horse or Kings' Horse. The remains were located in a cemetery dating back to the late Bronze and early Iron age, around 1400 BCE.
The Caspian horse is recognized as the oldest breed of horse in the world still in existence. Native to Northern Iran, the Caspian is unfortunately critically endangered, with only 1,300 registered Persian Caspians world-wide. Small and athletic, CAIS says the breed was, "Celebrated in ancient Iran as a chariot horse for racing and in battle," and much sought after by royalty.
As to whom the first person was who looked at this four-legged creature and decided to try and sit on it, we will never know, but we've been trying to stay sitting on it for years. According to the International Museum of the Horse located in Kentucky, "While in all probability riding first occurred relatively soon after domestication, there is no reliable textual or artistic evidence for horse riding earlier than around 2,000 to 1,500 BCE." And yes, you've guessed it, this evidence is disputed too.
Sources:
- Cais-soas.com. "Oldest remains of Caspian Horse discovered in North of Iran." April 29, 2011
- Imh.org. "Early Attempts at Riding." Undated
- Redorbit.com. "Archaeologists Uncover Ancient Site In Saudi Arabia." August 25, 2011
- University of Exeter. "Archaeologists Find Earliest Known Domestic Horses: Harnessed and Milked." ScienceDaily. Sciencedaily.com. Mar. 08, 2009
Elizabeth Batt - Elizabeth Batt is a former large animal nurse, certified NREMT, lover of equines and conservationist.
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