Archaeologists Unearth Roman Horse Cemetery With 100 Skeletons

“The history of mankind is carried on the back of a horse” is a saying that holds true for the Roman Empire, which expanded through the strength of its army, including its cavalry. An archaeological discovery in Germany offers rare insight into the animals that helped carry an ancient civilization. In July 2024, a construction project in Stuttgart’s Bad Cannstatt borough unearthed approximately 100 horse skeletons. The subsequent excavation, supervised by the State Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments, revealed that the animals dated to the second century CE and likely belonged to a Roman cavalry unit. One horse’s careful burial highlights the close relationship between some riders and their horses, suggesting that even 1,800 years ago, people mourned the loss of their animals as much as we do today. Bad Cannstatt was an important Roman military site during the first half of the second century AD. The local cavalry likely maintained over 700 animals—animals that needed ... Read full article.