An innovative saddle with a wooden frame and iron stirrups found in Mongolia may be the oldest example of its kind. The results of the study conducted on a well-preserved artifact were published in the journal ancient ages.
In 2015, Mongolian police seized a large number of artifacts stolen during the looting of an ancient cave in the western part of the country. The items included a saddle painted black and red, an iron drill, wooden archery equipment and the mummified remains of a horse. These artifacts were found in a cave, next to the bones of a man dressed in clothes made of sheep and badger skins. The site of the discovery became known as “The Horseman’s Cave.”
In a new study using DNA analysis, scientists discovered that the rider was a male and the animal was a male domestic horse. Carbon dating of the saddle’s bones and leather strap revealed that the saddle was made around 420, making it the oldest known framed saddle in the world.
The development of the rigid-frame saddle made the rider’s position more stable while riding, including while standing. This left one’s hands free for striking with a sword during military operations. The study suggests that Mongolian steppe cultures were closely associated with significant innovations in horsemanship and had a major impact on medieval warfare.
Previous scientists discovered Microbes prevented parts of the Great Wall from collapsing.
Source: Gazeta
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