Archaeology
Horse domestication didn't happen the way we think it did
Across human history, no single animal has had a deeper impact on human societies than the horse. But when and how people domesticated horses has been an ongoing scientific mystery.
Half a million years ago or more, early human ancestors hunted horses with wooden spears, the very first weapons, and used their bones for early tools. During the late Paleolithic era, as far back as 30,000 years ago or more, ancient artists chose wild horses as their muse: Horses are the most commonly depicted animal in Eurasian cave art.
Following their first domestication, horses became the foundation of herding life in the grasslands of Inner Asia, and key leaps forward in Technology such as the chariot, saddle and stirrup helped make horses the primary means of locomotion for Travel, communication, agriculture and warfare across much of the ancient world. With the aid of ocean voyages, these Animals eventually reached the shores of every major landmass — even Antarctica, briefly.
As they spread, horses reshaped ecology, social structures and economies at a never-before-seen scale. Ultimately, only industrial mechanization supplanted their near-universal role in society.
Because of their tremendous impact in shaping our collective human story, figuring out when, why and how horses became domesticated is a key step toward understanding the world we live in now.
Doing so has proven to be surprisingly challenging. In my new book, "Hoof Beats: How Horses Shaped Human History," I draw together new archaeological evidence that is revising what scientists like me thought we knew about this story.
A horse domestication hypothesis
Over the years, almost every time and place on Earth has been suggested as a possible origin point for horse domestication, from Europe tens of thousands of years ago to places such as Saudi Arabia, Anatolia, China or even the Americas.
-
Archaeology7h ago
Shocking truth! Discovered 1,448 tons of gold from 3,000 years ago!.hanh
-
Archaeology12h ago
Exploring Alaska’s UFO Enigma: Intriguing Details Captivate the Scientific Community.lamz
-
Archaeology1d ago
1,700-year-old 'barbarian' burial discovered along Roman Empire's frontier in Germany
-
Archaeology1d ago
Exploring the Hollow Earth Theory: Could Extraterrestrials Be Hidden Underground?.lamz
-
Archaeology1d ago
Roman coin trove discovered on Mediterranean island may have been hidden during ancient pirate attack
-
Archaeology1d ago
1,500-year-old gold coins from Byzantine Empire discovered in medieval dwelling in Bulgaria
-
Archaeology1d ago
Vikings in Norway were much more likely to die violent deaths than those in Denmark
-
Archaeology1d ago
Unveiling Priceless Treasures: The Most Unforgettable Moments Around the World.criss