Biomolecular evidence reveals mares and long-distance imported horses sacrificed by the last pagans in temperate Europe.
| Title: | Biomolecular evidence reveals mares and long-distance imported horses sacrificed by the last pagans in temperate Europe. |
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| Authors: | French KM; School of History, Archaeology and Religion, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.; Musiał AD; National Research Institute of Animal Production, Balice, Poland.; Karczewski M; Department of International Relations, University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.; Daugnora L; Institute of the Baltic Region History and Archaeology, Klaipėda, Lithuania.; Shiroukhov R; Center for Baltic and Scandinavian Archaeology, Schleswig, Germany.; Ropka-Molik K; National Research Institute of Animal Production, Balice, Poland.; Baranowski T; Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.; Bertašius M; Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas, Lithuania.; Skvortsov K; Institute of Archaeology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.; Szymański P; Department of Archaeology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.; Mellin-Wyczółkowska I; Masurian Archaeological Laboratory Rudka, Kętrzyn, Poland.; Gręzak A; Department of Archaeology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.; Wyczółkowski D; Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.; Pluskowski A; Department of Archaeology, University of Reading, Reading, UK.; Andersen M; School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.; Millet MA; School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.; Inglis E; School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.; Madgwick R; School of History, Archaeology and Religion, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK. |
| Source: | Science advances [Sci Adv] 2024 May 17; Vol. 10 (20), pp. eado3529. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 May 17. |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article; Historical Article |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 101653440 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2375-2548 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 23752548 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Sci Adv Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: Washington, DC : American Association for the Advancement of Science, [2015]- |
| MeSH Terms: | Strontium Isotopes*/analysis; Horses ; Animals ; Female ; Europe ; Male ; Archaeology ; Humans |
| Abstract: | Horse sacrifice and deposition are enigmatic features of funerary rituals identified across prehistoric Europe that persisted in the eastern Baltic. Genetic and isotopic analysis of horses in Balt cemeteries [1st to 13th centuries CE (Common Era)] dismantle prevailing narratives that locally procured stallions were exclusively selected. Strontium isotope analysis provides direct evidence for long-distance (~300 to 1500 kilometers) maritime transport of Fennoscandian horses to the eastern Baltic in the Late Viking Age (11th to 13th centuries CE). Genetic analysis proves that horses of both sexes were sacrificed with 34% identified as mares. Results transform the understanding of selection criteria, disprove sex-based selection, and elevate prestige value as a more crucial factor. These findings also provide evidence that the continued interaction between pagans and their newly Christianized neighbors sustained the performance of funerary horse sacrifice until the medieval transition. We also present a reference 87Sr/86Sr isoscape for the southeastern Baltic, releasing the potential of future mobility studies in the region. |
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| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20240517 Date Completed: 20240517 Latest Revision: 20260127 |
| Update Code: | 20260130 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC11100556 |
| DOI: | 10.1126/sciadv.ado3529 |
| PMID: | 38758790 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
Journal Article; Historical Article