Work- and age-related changes in an Iron Age horse skeleton from Danebury hillfort, Hampshire

Robin Bendrey*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Pathological changes and other alterations in an Iron Age horse skeleton from Danebury, Hampshire, England are described and used to interpret the possible use of the animal. The low level of pathology present in what is a relatively old animal (c. 16-18 years of age at death) suggests that the horse was not heavily used, perhaps employed to pull a light cart or chariot or occasional riding. The presence of a horizontal fissure in the caudal epiphysis of the thoracic vertebra 14 may indicate that it was used for riding, possibly with either a pad saddle or bareback.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)97-108
Number of pages12
JournalArchaeofauna
Volume16
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2007

Keywords

  • Danebury
  • horse
  • Iron age
  • palaeopathology
  • riding
  • traction

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