Early Iron Age cavalry? Evidence of oral and thoracolumbar pathologies on possible warhorses from Iron Age, Denmark

Abstract

This article presents paleopathological analyses of six adult male Iron Age horses (4th century BC to 5th century AD) found in association with large amounts of ritually deposited warrior paraphernalia including horse tack. Pathological lesions have been observed on all six horses. The observed pathologies can be divided into three major categories: oral pathologies including abnormal dental wear, spinal pathologies and trauma, and pathologies of the limb bones. Some of the observed pathologies (e.g., cranial asymmetry) are most likely developmental, and some (e.g., arthritic thoracolumbar lesions and bone spavin) are possibly age related. Other observed lesions, such as mandibular periostitis (bony spurs) at the dorsal interalveolar margin and abnormal dental wear, seem to be more directly associated with horseback riding or the use of bits. The close match between a reconstructed ported bit from one of the sites included in the study and dental lesions and wear in two of the horses suggests that the horses were ridden with equipment strongly connected to warfare. The presence of vertebral endplate fractures in the thoracolumbar region in three of the horses may further relate to the use of horses for riding. The analyses thus support previous studies in suggesting that pathologies located in the lower thoracic/lumbar region and various types of bit wear are indicative of horseback riding.

They fought on horseback, didn't they?

“…In this issue, Kveiborg and Nørgaard (2022) present detailed palaeopathological evaluation of six Iron Age horses from Denmark found in association with ritually deposited warrior paraphernalia, including large amounts of weaponry and horse harnesses. Based on their context and treatment, these horses are believed to have belonged to defeated armies-all were directly associated with weaponry depositions and had been subject to similar ritual destruction as seen in the weaponry.…”

“…In the long-view, it is also clear that shifting cultural practices, evolving phenotypes, specifics of use and associated technology means that 'warhorses' are also not a static entity through time, and thus the pathological changes registered in their skeleton may not be similar either. It is in this context that the study of Kveiborg and Nørgaard (2022) also has great value. The pathological studies they present can be tied closely to a tight archaeological context and artifactual record in terms of harness equipment, to provide a useful control dataset for comparison to other archaeological records.…”

Micro computed tomography and histological examination of a pathological lesion (healed fracture) in a horse tooth from the medieval site of Crkveno Brdo, Serbia

“…The study of equine dental pathology in archaeology contributes to the main topic of appearance and use of different types and materials of bridle and bits, mainly during early horse domestication. Considering the importance of horses as human companions throughout prehistory and history, it is not surprising that the topics of teeth and oral pathology associated with bite damage, along with back problems in horses often appear in the paleopathological literature (e.g., Bartosiewicz & Gál, 2013; Bendrey, 2007a, 2007b, 2011; Bulatović et al, 2014; Kveiborg & Nørgaard, 2022; Levine, 1999; Olsen, 2003, 2006; Outram et al, 2009; Taylor et al, 2021; Taylor & Tuvshinjargal, 2018). Less frequent are studies on the origin and development of oral pathology in light of past horse management practices (e.g., Bartosiewicz & Gál, 2013; Bendrey, 2014; Cross, 2018; Pasicka et al, 2017).…”