Horses in Lithuania in the Late Roman-Medieval Period (3rd-14th C AD) Burial Sites: Updates on Size, Age and Dating.
Authors: Piličiauskienė Giedrė, Kurila Laurynas, Ežerinskis Žilvinas, Šapolaitė Justina, Garbaras Andrius, Zagurskytė Aurelija, Micelicaitė Viktorija
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary Lithuanian archaeological records preserve an exceptionally valuable dataset spanning the 3rd to 14th centuries AD—over 2000 horse burials representing the longest-lasting equine burial tradition in Europe—allowing researchers to track morphological changes in horse populations across more than a millennium. Piličiauskienė and colleagues conducted osteometric analysis and radiocarbon dating on more than 200 skeletal specimens held in Lithuanian institutions, establishing more precise chronologies and body size estimates than previously available; crucially, AMS ¹⁴C dating of 13 Migration period horses revealed significant chronological errors in the existing archaeological record. The findings revealed marked variation across periods: Late Roman horses were substantially larger than subsequent populations; the Viking period (roughly 6th–10th centuries) was dominated by semi-slender-legged animals standing 118–125 cm at the withers, representing what appears to be a consistent local type; and medieval horses (12th–14th centuries) showed greater heterogeneity with a notable expansion in taller individuals reaching 140–150 cm. The authors challenge prevailing assumptions linking large body size exclusively to military function and high social status, noting that small horses, many buried with saddles and equipment, persisted throughout the medieval period and likely played substantive roles in mounted warfare and elite horsemanship. For equine professionals engaged in breeding decisions, saddle fitting, and understanding historical performance demands, these findings suggest that modern assumptions about 'ideal' cavalry horse proportions may not reflect historical reality in Eastern European contexts, and that smaller, robust types warrant reconsideration in discussions of suitability for various ridden disciplines.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Historical horse size data from burial sites demonstrates that effective mounted warfare and high-status cavalry use were not exclusively dependent on large horse stature—medieval Lithuanian evidence shows small horses equipped for combat and burial with military gear.
- •Archaeological osteometric analysis can inform breed type and local horse population characteristics over centuries, useful for understanding heritage breeds and their historical performance roles.
- •The persistence of small horses in medieval burial assemblages challenges assumptions about horse size requirements for specific functions, suggesting local adaptation and tactical flexibility merit consideration in equestrian history and heritage breed programs.
Key Findings
- •Lithuanian horse burials span from the Early Roman period to the late 14th century AD, representing the longest-lasting horse burial custom in Europe with approximately 2000 known burials.
- •Late Roman-post-Migration period horses were unusually large compared to Viking and medieval Lithuanian horses, while the predominant Viking period horse was 118-125 cm tall with semi-slender legs consistent with local type.
- •AMS 14C dating of 13 Migration period horses corrected existing chronology and revealed that Lithuanian horses in the 3rd-11th centuries AD were consistently small compared to Central/Western European and Scandinavian populations.
- •Medieval period (12th-14th centuries AD) showed greater variety with expansion of taller horses (140-150 cm), yet small horses continued to be buried with saddles and equipment, suggesting complex social and tactical roles for diverse horse sizes.