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

Abstract

AbstractThis 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.