Latest news with #SarahRoth
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Very rare' military horse cemetery from Roman times unearthed in Germany
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Archaeologists in Germany have unearthed a vast horse cemetery from Roman times, a discovery that is "very rare," according to researchers. The excavation, conducted in Stuttgart's borough of Bad Cannstatt, has revealed the skeletal remains of more than 100 horses. These animals were part of a Roman cavalry unit known as Ala, which was active in what is now southwest Germany during the second century A.D., radiocarbon dating of the horses' bones revealed. "Finding such a large horse cemetery from Roman times is very rare," Sarah Roth, the archaeologist in charge at the State Office for Monument Preservation (LAD) in the Stuttgart Regional Council, told Live Science in an email. While a few horse burials had been found in Bad Cannstatt since the 1920s, a 2024 excavation ahead of a new construction project revealed that the burial ground was teeming with equid remains. "We hadn't expected to find so many horses still preserved in the ground," Roth said. "This was truly a surprise!" The warhorse cemetery also held the remains of a Roman-era man buried on his stomach and without grave goods, indicating that he likely was an outsider who wasn't held in high esteem. "Its [the body's] position suggests that the man was 'disposed of' here rather than given a regular burial," as a regular cemetery for people was only about 0.3 miles (0.5 kilometers) away, Roth said. Related: Roman-era skeletons buried in embrace, on top of a horse, weren't lovers, DNA analysis shows The Roman cavalry unit at Bad Cannstatt patrolled the border of the Roman Empire from about A.D. 100 to 150. "The horsemen were responsible for controlling their section of the border," Roth said. "As horses were the fastest means of transport on land at the time, they were in particular used in urgent emergencies." Ala likely included nearly 500 riders and at least 700 horses, according to a translated statement from LAD. When the unit's horses died, the Romans buried them in a specific area that was about 1,312 feet (400 meters) from the cavalry fort and 656 feet (200 m) from the civilian settlement. The dead horses were dragged into shallow pits and buried on their sides with their legs bent or straight. These burials likely had markers in Roman times, as they were packed closely together yet had very little overlap, Roth said in the statement. Image 1 of 2 In a rare burial, one of the horses was buried with grave goods next to its upper legs. Image 2 of 2 Archaeological work ahead of a new construction project by the Stuttgart Housing and Urban Development Company revealed the horse cemetery. Excavations of the cemetery started in July 2024. "The horses do not all appear to have died at the same time in a major event such as a battle or epidemic," Roth said in the statement. "Rather, the animals buried here either died of illness, injury, or other reasons during the Ala's presence in Bad Cannstatt." Alternatively, it's possible some "were no longer able to fulfill their role as military horses," she added. "If the horse could still walk on its own, it would have been brought to the horse cemetery and killed on site to avoid having to transport the heavy carcass." RELATED STORIES —Lasers reveal Roman-era circus in Spain where 5,000 spectators watched horse-drawn chariot races —Cold War satellite images reveal nearly 400 Roman forts in the Middle East —Remains of 1,600-year-old Roman fort unearthed in Turkey One buried horse was clearly dear to its owner; it was buried with two jugs and a small oil lamp nestled in the crook of one of its front legs. Grave goods such as these are typically found in Roman-era burials for humans, making the jug and lamp "unusual" to find among horse bones, Roth told Live Science. "Of the approximately 100 horses we were able to examine, only one had received grave goods," she said. The horse cemetery offers a rare look at the use of horses in the Roman army. Further analyses will reveal the horses' sexes, ages at death and their sizes, as well as possible diseases they had and their causes of death. Future studies may also reveal their ancestral roots, where they were bred and if they were well kept and fed.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
‘Very rare' horse cemetery from Roman times unearthed in Germany
Archaeologists have unearthed a 'very rare' Roman-era horse cemetery in Germany containing the skeletons of over a hundred horses and that of a strange man buried in a prone position. The 'sensational find' in Stuttgart sheds unique insights into the use of horses by the Roman army, according to the German State Office for Monument Preservation (LAD). These buried horses were part of a second-century AD Roman cavalry unit known as Ala, which was larger than normal legions with over 5,400 or 5,100 men active in what is now southwest Germany. During its heyday, the region was one of the most important Roman military sites, likely home to a population of over 700 horses, researchers say. Horse skeleton unearthed at Roman-era cemetery in Stuttgart (State Office for Monument Preservation Stuttgart) Excavation in this part of Stuttgart's borough of Bad Cannstatt has been ongoing since July 2024, bringing to light more than 100 horse skeletons. Radiocarbon dating of the bones suggests the horses likely lived during the 2nd century. "Due to the archaeological and historical knowledge of the Roman Bad Cannstatt, the horses of the equestrian unit – a so-called 'Ala' – can be assigned, which was stationed on the Hallschlag from about 100 to 150 AD,' archaeologist Sarah Roth from LAD said in a translated statement. 'The troop with almost 500 riders probably had a total horseback of at least 700 animals and losses had to be constantly replaced,' Dr Roth said. Whenever a horse part of the cavalry died, it would be buried about 400m away from the equestrian castle and at a distance of 200m from the civil settlement, researchers say. The horse carcasses were moved on sledges individually into shallow pits and buried lying on their sides with outstretched or bent legs. Aerial view of Roman-era horse cemetery unearthed in Stuttgart (State Office for Monument Preservation Stuttgart) Despite the cemetery having a partly dense occupation, there seemed to be only a few overlaps of the pit, indicating the pits were likely marked above ground. "The horses do not all seem to have died at the same time in a major event such as a battle or epidemic,' Dr Roth said. Instead, there's evidence of the animals either dying during the presence of the cavalry due to isolated cases of illness, injury, or other reasons, researchers say. Most animals seem to have been disposed of rather than buried, however, with some exceptions. One of the horses was found buried with two jugs and a small oil lamp placed in the corner of its pit. "Here we see a particularly close connection of the owner to his horse. Even after about 1800 years, the grief over the death of this one animal is still apparent,' Dr Roth said. The exact size of the entire cemetery remains unclear, researchers say. Archaeologists also uncovered the skeleton of a Roman-era man in the cemetery, buried on his stomach and without grave goods, suggesting he was likely an outsider who wasn't held in high esteem.
Business Mayor
06-05-2025
- Science
- Business Mayor
‘Very rare' horse cemetery from Roman times unearthed in Germany
Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Archaeologists have unearthed a 'very rare' Roman-era horse cemetery in Germany containing the skeletons of over a hundred horses and that of a strange man buried in a prone position. The 'sensational find' in Stuttgart sheds unique insights into the use of horses by the Roman army, according to the German State Office for Monument Preservation (LAD). These buried horses were part of a second-century AD Roman cavalry unit known as Ala, which was larger than normal legions with over 5,400 or 5,100 men active in what is now southwest Germany. During its heyday, the region was one of the most important Roman military sites, likely home to a population of over 700 horses, researchers say. Horse skeleton unearthed at Roman-era cemetery in Stuttgart (State Office for Monument Preservation Stuttgart) Excavation in this part of Stuttgart's borough of Bad Cannstatt has been ongoing since July 2024, bringing to light more than 100 horse skeletons. Radiocarbon dating of the bones suggests the horses likely lived during the 2nd century. 'Due to the archaeological and historical knowledge of the Roman Bad Cannstatt, the horses of the equestrian unit – a so-called 'Ala' – can be assigned, which was stationed on the Hallschlag from about 100 to 150 AD,' archaeologist Sarah Roth from LAD said in a translated statement. 'The troop with almost 500 riders probably had a total horseback of at least 700 animals and losses had to be constantly replaced,' Dr Roth said. Whenever a horse part of the cavalry died, it would be buried about 400m away from the equestrian castle and at a distance of 200m from the civil settlement, researchers say. The horse carcasses were moved on sledges individually into shallow pits and buried lying on their sides with outstretched or bent legs. Aerial view of Roman-era horse cemetery unearthed in Stuttgart (State Office for Monument Preservation Stuttgart) Despite the cemetery having a partly dense occupation, there seemed to be only a few overlaps of the pit, indicating the pits were likely marked above ground. 'The horses do not all seem to have died at the same time in a major event such as a battle or epidemic,' Dr Roth said. Instead, there's evidence of the animals either dying during the presence of the cavalry due to isolated cases of illness, injury, or other reasons, researchers say. Most animals seem to have been disposed of rather than buried, however, with some exceptions. One of the horses was found buried with two jugs and a small oil lamp placed in the corner of its pit. 'Here we see a particularly close connection of the owner to his horse. Even after about 1800 years, the grief over the death of this one animal is still apparent,' Dr Roth said. The exact size of the entire cemetery remains unclear, researchers say. Archaeologists also uncovered the skeleton of a Roman-era man in the cemetery, buried on his stomach and without grave goods, suggesting he was likely an outsider who wasn't held in high esteem.
The Independent
06-05-2025
- Science
- The Independent
‘Very rare' horse cemetery from Roman times unearthed in Germany
Archaeologists have unearthed a 'very rare' Roman -era horse cemetery in Germany containing the skeletons of over a hundred horses and that of a strange man buried in a prone position. The 'sensational find' in Stuttgart sheds unique insights into the use of horses by the Roman army, according to the German State Office for Monument Preservation (LAD). These buried horses were part of a second-century AD Roman cavalry unit known as Ala, which was larger than normal legions with over 5,400 or 5,100 men active in what is now southwest Germany. During its heyday, the region was one of the most important Roman military sites, likely home to a population of over 700 horses, researchers say. Excavation in this part of Stuttgart's borough of Bad Cannstatt has been ongoing since July 2024, bringing to light more than 100 horse skeletons. Radiocarbon dating of the bones suggests the horses likely lived during the 2nd century. "Due to the archaeological and historical knowledge of the Roman Bad Cannstatt, the horses of the equestrian unit – a so-called 'Ala' – can be assigned, which was stationed on the Hallschlag from about 100 to 150 AD,' archaeologist Sarah Roth from LAD said in a translated statement. 'The troop with almost 500 riders probably had a total horseback of at least 700 animals and losses had to be constantly replaced,' Dr Roth said. Whenever a horse part of the cavalry died, it would be buried about 400m away from the equestrian castle and at a distance of 200m from the civil settlement, researchers say. The horse carcasses were moved on sledges individually into shallow pits and buried lying on their sides with outstretched or bent legs. Despite the cemetery having a partly dense occupation, there seemed to be only a few overlaps of the pit, indicating the pits were likely marked above ground. "The horses do not all seem to have died at the same time in a major event such as a battle or epidemic,' Dr Roth said. Instead, there's evidence of the animals either dying during the presence of the cavalry due to isolated cases of illness, injury, or other reasons, researchers say. Most animals seem to have been disposed of rather than buried, however, with some exceptions. One of the horses was found buried with two jugs and a small oil lamp placed in the corner of its pit. "Here we see a particularly close connection of the owner to his horse. Even after about 1800 years, the grief over the death of this one animal is still apparent,' Dr Roth said. The exact size of the entire cemetery remains unclear, researchers say. Archaeologists also uncovered the skeleton of a Roman-era man in the cemetery, buried on his stomach and without grave goods, suggesting he was likely an outsider who wasn't held in high esteem.
Fox News
29-04-2025
- Science
- Fox News
Archaeologists uncover massive number of horse skeletons at 'important' Roman military site
Archaeologists recently announced the discovery of over 100 buried horses dating back to ancient Rome – but the skeletons weren't found in Italy. The excavation took place at Bad Cannstatt, a borough in southwestern Germany, said an April 16 press release from the Baden-Württemberg State Office for Monument Preservation (LAD). The statement, translated from German to English, noted the town was one of the region's "most important Roman military sites" in ancient times. A cavalry unit there boasted around 700 horses at its peak. Pictures from the site show horse skeletons buried in the soil as excavators worked to clear them. The excavation began last July, spurred by recent construction projects that "necessitated archaeological investigations," according to LAD. Experts say the remains are just under 2,000 years old, dating back to the second century A.D. "The first horse bones discovered were dated to the second century using the radiocarbon method," said Sarah Roth, an archaeologist at LAD. "Based on the archaeological and historical knowledge of Roman Bad Cannstatt, the horses can be attributed to the cavalry unit - a so-called 'Ala' - stationed at Hallschlag from around 100 to 150 AD." She also noted that "the troop of nearly 500 riders likely had a total horse stock of at least 700 animals, with losses needing constant replacement." The horses were buried roughly a quarter of a mile away from the cavalry fort and one-eighth of a mile away from civilian residences. "The carcasses were usually dragged individually into shallow pits, where they were buried lying on their side with legs extended or bent," LAD explained in the statement. "The site was likely marked above ground. Despite a sometimes dense arrangement, there were few overlaps of the pits." Roth added that the horses did not appear to die during a single event, such as a battle. Rather, the animals were probably ill or injured when they were buried, or may have been otherwise unfit for military service. "If the horse could still walk, it would have been brought to the horse cemetery and killed on site to avoid transporting the heavy carcass," she said. Archaeologists believe the cemetery site was more extensive than the construction site itself, but its exact size is unknown. There have been several ancient Roman grave discoveries in the past year. Interestingly, some horses were buried together with items, perhaps as tokens for the journey to the afterlife. One animal was found with two jugs and a small oil lamp, and the items were "placed in the crook of its arm as a farewell." "Here we see a particularly close bond between the owner and his horse," Roth said. "Even after around 1800 years, the grief over the death of this one animal is still evident." There have been several ancient Roman grave discoveries in the past year. In Vienna, Austria, archaeologists recently uncovered a mass grave containing the remains of Roman soldiers and Germanic tribesmen under a soccer field. Earlier this year, a remarkably well-preserved dog was found at an ancient Roman site in Belgium, highlighting the prevalence of animal sacrifice in antiquity.
