Archaeologists have found up to 28 remains of horses in Frances that are thought to be from around 2,000 years ago.
They were able to find nine pits that contained the remains in the Villedieu-sur-Indre commune, which is situated at the country's center.
Horse Burials Found
The team behind the discovery was with the French National Institute of Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP).
It appears that the horses had a spectacular display of their burial, though the circumstances regarding their death remain highly mysterious.
One possible explanation is that the horses were killed in battle. Another possibility is that they were offered as sacrifices during a ritual.
Among the pits, only two have undergone full excavation. The first one has ten full horse skeletons that were apparently carefully placed inside the pits. All of these horses appeared to lie on the right sides, with their heads directed toward the south.
The bodies' meticulous arrangement shows that the horses were buried briefly after they died. All the horses were male adults that were likely more than four years of age. They were all also small, having a wither height of four feet.
The second pit that has undergone excavation is significantly smaller. It also holds just two horse skeletons that resemble the ones that were found in the larger pit.
Excavations are still ongoing for the remaining pits. However, researchers were able to discover the remains of bones and skulls over the surface. So far, the remains of 28 individual horses have been identified.
Aside from this, archaeologists were able to uncover a different pit that contains the remains of two medium-sized adult dogs. These dog remains also appeared carefully positioned as they lay on their left side with their heads facing the west.
The remains of the animals surfaced during excavations of an area that dates back to the 5th and 6th centuries. The area also covers several ditches, buildings, and an early medieval-period path.
However, based on radiocarbon dating, the animal remains appear older. Results reveal that they originate from B.C. 100 to 100 A.D.
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Mysterious Deaths
There is still confusion and questions regarding the death of the horses. The specialists have excluded disease epidemic as a possible reason, considering how mares and young horses are missing.
However, the horses' death could possibly be associated with the Gallic Wars, which Roman general Julius Caesar waged against many native tribes across Western Europe. These largely took place between B.C. 58 and B.C. 50.
Isabelle Pichon, who heads the archaeological operation for INRAP, explained that they think that because of how they were buried, they could have been associated with the Gallic Wars that Julius Caesar waged. However, this remains a theory.
Pichon added that they knew that a crucial battle had happened, and the Roman army moved not far from the area. However, they only have minimal evidence. They also did not find anything to show how the animals died.
Nevertheless, the researchers cannot disregard the hypothesis that the killing and burial of the animals could have come as part of a ritual, which is a practice that has been seen across Europe and that goes back thousands of years.
If such a hypothesis is true, the massive number of killed horses suggests that the practice could have had grave importance.
Pichon said that the rarity of the findings make it such an extraordinary discovery, though it remains a mystery. What is known is that there was particular attention given to the burial of the horses. The animals were carefully and respectfully treated, rather than just being thrown to the pit.
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