[Morphometric study of the equine skeleton of the Merovingian period of Tournai (5th century A.D.) [Belgium]]
1995
Gabriel, A. | Collin, B. (Liege Univ. (Belgium). Faculte de Medecine Veterinaire. Service d'Anatomie) | Mees, G.
Three graves of the Merovingian cemetery ecxavated in Tournai (Belgium) unexpectedly released the bones of twenty one horses. After 14C analysis, they have been dated as contemporaneous with Childeric's era (5th century A.D.). The extensive osteomorphometric study has provided information on their age, sex, health and type. Five horses were under five years old, nine between six and ten and eight over ten. As for sex determination, seven stallions (two probable) were recognized, seven geldings (one probable), one mare (probable), three foals, while three others remained undetermined. Only minor bone pathology (exostosis, spondylosis, spondylarthrosis) was observed such as may be expected in many adult horses. This invalidates the hypothesis of a devastating disease and rather suggests the idea of a ritual sacrifice. Three skeletons in a good state of general conservation were selected and all their pieces measured together with all metapodials and other long bones in order to calculate the gracility index (metacarpus: between 14.33 and 15.95 cm; metatarsus: between 11.05 and 12.48 cm in length) and the withers height (between 136.4 cm and 156.1 cm). In conclusion, the horse present in Belgium at the Merovingian time can be described as a lean, gracile and small animal, whose morphology recall that of an "oriental" type horse.
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