Horses in the Early Medieval (10th-13th c.) Religious Rituals of Slavs in Polish Areas-An Archaeozoological, Archaeological and Historical Overview.
Authors: Makowiecki Daniel, Chudziak Wojciech, Szczepanik Paweł, Janeczek Maciej, Pasicka Edyta
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary Early medieval Slavic peoples in Polish territories held horses in significant spiritual regard, yet archaeozoological evidence of this veneration has been underutilised in historical interpretation until now. Makowiecki and colleagues examined horse skeletal remains from 10th–13th century archaeological sites across Poland, supplementing traditional historical and archaeological records with bone analysis and taphonomic investigation to reconstruct ritual practices and human–equine relationships of the period. The research revealed that whilst horse bones frequently appeared as kitchen refuse, complete skeletons and skulls were comparatively rare—a striking contrast to neighbouring Germanic, Scandinavian and Prussian regions where equine burials were substantially more common. Taphonomic analysis uncovered that certain horse skulls, likely serving apotropaic (protective) functions, were deliberately positioned under stronghold ramparts for ritual exposure rather than simple disposal, and some individuals bearing signs of infectious disease were similarly interred in these liminal spaces, suggesting therapeutic or protective intent. These findings expand understanding of how early medieval Polish societies deployed horses within sacred cosmologies, whether as sacrificial subjects, protective talismans, divinatory animals or embodied cosmological symbols—knowledge that contextualises the cultural significance of equine care and breeding practices within these communities.
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Practical Takeaways
- •This archaeological evidence has limited direct application to modern equine practice; it provides historical context on cultural and ritual uses of horses in medieval societies
- •Understanding historical horse management and disease patterns (such as infectious diseases meriting ritual burial) contributes to knowledge of equine health history but does not inform contemporary clinical or farriery practice
- •The study is primarily of academic and cultural interest rather than practical utility for working equine professionals
Key Findings
- •Horse skeletons and skulls used in early medieval Slavic religious rituals (10th-13th c.) were uncommon compared to horse remains in kitchen waste
- •Taphonomic analysis revealed horse skulls with apotropaic status were deposited under stronghold ramparts and exposed for public viewing
- •Horses with infectious diseases were selectively buried under ramparts, suggesting deliberate ritual selection
- •Horses functioned as sacrificial animals, apotropaic deposits, fortune-telling figures, and cosmological symbols in Slavic religious practices