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The first domesticated horses have long remained a mystery in the world of archeology and history. Horses are a fundamental part of history as their domestication revolutionized human mobility and combat. It was thanks to horses that cultures could flourish as they traveled between societies and opened up trade routes over great distances.
However, this week, a team of paleogenetics and archaeologists uncovered the origins of horse domestication after collecting horse remains from various regions. Horses were first domesticated in 2200 BC in what is now Russia, according to a study by the Toulouse Center for Anthropobiology and Genomics. This species spread throughout Europe and Asia and became the predominant domestic horse species. Eventually, these horses evolved into the modern breeds we see and work with today.
The discovery of this horse species could provide archaeologists with a key insight into the ancient cultural encounters and migratory routes of our ancestors.
Research: Finding Modern Horses
After this discovery, the researchers expanded their search and excavation of the remains of ancient horses. The new study covered Eurasia – modern Western Europe, Mongolia and Serbia. It was here that archaeologists found gold. In Western Europe, a horse species was discovered that matched the genetic makeup of modern horse breeds. These horses are believed to have a more docile temperament and stronger spine than the native Asian varieties.
Determining the exact time and geographic origin of horse domestication has not been an easy task for researchers. Previous research has shown that horse domestication began in present-day Central Asia in 3500 BC. However, after comparing the genetic makeup of Asian remains and modern horses. Paleogeneticists realized that these remains were not the same, and another species of domestic horses must have existed somewhere else in history. The genes for Asian remains are nearly extinct in modern domestic horse breeds.
The horse varieties of Western Eurasia eventually spread across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East through human migration and trade routes. By 1500 BC. European horse species have replaced other horses as the main domesticated horses. Most likely, this was due to their flexible temperament and strong spine. This was the Bronze Age, when people began to train horses for work and travel in chariots – both of them preferred a quieter temperament and stronger horses. Wild horses were not suitable for these activities and did not perform them as well as Western European breeds.
Impact: the role of horses in historical research
By understanding when and where horses were first domesticated, archaeologists can piece together the movements of early human societies. By tracing the remains of horses and analyzing their genetic differences and similarities, researchers can trace the first steps of humans in research. In addition, studying horse domestication can also provide key insights into trading habits and warfare.
With this new information and the hand it gives to understanding ancient history, this research may serve as a stimulus for further research into animal evolution throughout history. The domestication of horses and their spread across the continent is just one of many animal studies that could help historians piece together intercultural encounters that took place thousands of years ago.
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