Earliest evidence for equid bit wear in the ancient Near East: The "ass" from Early Bronze Age Tell eṣ-Ṣâfi/Gath, Israel.
Authors: Greenfield Haskel J, Shai Itzhaq, Greenfield Tina L, Arnold Elizabeth R, Brown Annie, Eliyahu-Behar Adi, Maeir Aren M
Journal: PloS one
Summary
# Editorial Summary Archaeological analysis of a sacrificed donkey buried beneath an Early Bronze Age (c. 2800–2600 BCE) house floor at Tell eṣ-Ṣâfi/Gath in Israel has revealed wear patterns on the lower second premolar (LPM2) consistent with bit contact, representing the earliest known evidence of bitting in equids from the ancient Near East. The mesial enamel surfaces of both lower premolars displayed characteristic wear suggesting prolonged contact with a hard material—whether metal, bone, or wood—indicating active rein control rather than casual contact. This discovery predates previously documented bitting evidence in the region and provides material proof that sophisticated management techniques for donkeys, critical workhorses of Bronze Age economies, were already established by the third millennium BCE. For modern equine professionals, this archaeological evidence underscores the long historical precedent for bit-based control methods and raises questions about the biomechanical and welfare implications of bitting practices that have persisted for millennia. Understanding the antiquity of these management practices may inform contemporary discussions about rein control alternatives and the physiological adaptation of equid dentition to such pressures.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Bit-induced wear patterns on premolar teeth are recognizable and can persist in skeletal remains, providing historical evidence of bit use practices
- •Understanding historical bit use and wear patterns may inform current knowledge of how bits interact with equid dentition
- •This archaeological evidence demonstrates that bit control of equids dates back at least 4,800 years in the Near East
Key Findings
- •A domestic donkey from Early Bronze Age IIIB (c. 2800-2600 BCE) shows mesial enamel wear on bilateral lower premolar 2 consistent with bit use
- •This represents the earliest archaeological evidence for bit use on domestic equids in the Near East
- •The wear pattern suggests use of a dental bit (metal, bone, wood, or other material) for animal control