The first horses of the North American Indians were Spanish.

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This Horses ridden by the Comanche Indians from North America Spaniards, according to a scientific study that was recently released to the public. The investigation examined every record to conclude that these animals came to the great plains of today’s United States from the south of the settlements established by the Spanish. And this was long before other European colonizers arrived.

“We are known as the ‘Lords of the Plains,’ and we are part of the Shoshone tribe. In the late 1600s and early 1700s, we moved from our Shoshone relatives to the northern plains and then south to seek a new home,” says the website of the Comanche Nation, one of the oldest indigenous peoples. on site. lands that are today the United States of America.

The Comanches migrated “through the plains through Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma,” by their own accounts, and eventually settled in southwestern Oklahoma. “The horse was an important element in Comanche culture.. “The people have mastered horseback and gained a great advantage in times of war,” he said.

This feature of Comanche culture is now on the cover of the journal once again, when an international group of researchers presents a study. Sciencewith Surprising facts about when domesticated horses of Spanish origin entered the lives of Native American peoples.

These indigenous cultures of the Great Plains (magnificent plains) North America and the Northern Rocky Mountains they would integrate horses dispersed from modern-day Mexican territory no later than the first half of the 17th century.

Image of the approximate distribution of the North American Great Plains William L. Farr.

The authors chosedirectly analyze historical examples of early horse specimens, rather than relying on colonial records, Until now, it was assumed that the animals had spread to the American West at the end of the 17th century.

Analyzes of the archaeological remains of these animals in the Great Plains and northern Rockies included osteological, genomic, isotopic, radiocarbon and paleopathological evidence. The results show that the first North American domestic horses show strong genetic affinity with Spaniards, It indicates European origin.

pack animal company

The article states that horse populations They would have expanded northward from Spanish settlements in the American southwest long before other Europeans arrived in the 18th century.at a time of “disturbing social changes” among the natives.

SINC consulted William Taylor about the role and connection played by pack animals among local ethnic groups to learn about the living conditions at the time.

“Our project demonstrates that horses were integrated into indigenous societies in much of the western United States at least in the early 17th century, and They were mostly of Spanish origin., it emphasizes. In addition, he notes that “before this time, other pack animals played an important role in the Americas, particularly camelids such as the llama and alpaca in South America, and domestic dogs in most of the Great Plains.”

North American Indian Canvas painting valley

More than three centuries later, different visions of these phenomena have come together to try to explain them with less bias. Concerning how different perspectives enrich this interdisciplinary study, Taylor argues that “by applying a wide variety of techniques from the archaeological sciences” the first integration of horses “was much earlier than Western researchers thought”also valuing “aspects of horse management by the natives” such as “isotope-based osteology, veterinary care and riding through diet and movement”.

Jimmy W. Arterberry, tribal historian of the Comanche Nation, notes “the respect and discussion among the interdisciplinary research team” because, he says, “they allowed for rich and important collaboration, as the results show.” .

They have changed over time

Another related fact is how it works, thanks to ancient DNA studies. “America’s changing social landscape” has affected horses that, over time, have acquired “stronger traits of British origin”.explains the lead author.

Although the researcher emphasizes: “Perhaps our most important finding is that In this case, archaeological discoveries confirm the oral traditions of many of our collaborators, such as the Comanches.their tradition suggests that they already raised horses before their long migration to the southern plains in the 18th century.

Horse and rider petroglyph in Tolar region (Sweetwater, Wyoming) pat doak

A Comanche spokesman agrees with Taylor: “Oral tradition is the most effective way of communicating lifestyles and cultural trends within Comanche history itself.”

However, Arterberry continues, “Producing written, photographic and audio-visual documents with cultural interpretations, sharing and communicating among ourselves and with the world in general is very important in this age.” For Sözcü, having a place in the dissemination of what his people are and sharing historical narratives is “necessary for the continuation of one’s own culture and memory” and “values”. inclusion of modern science initiatives.

In this situation, “Analysis combined with oral history accounts confirmed and enhanced our understanding of the horse’s arrival in Native American culture”, adds the representative of the Comanche community on the team.

An animal associated with culture

Regarding indigenous peoples’ lore traditions, Taylor says, “For most horse enthusiasts around the world, horses are not only part of the past but also part of the present and future, because They play a role not limited to transportation, economy, or ecology, but are also found in ceremonies, beliefs, and culture”.

Therefore, “archeology can help us appreciate the antiquity and value of equestrian traditions as resources of stability, healing, and community that must be preserved and nurtured.”

How can this ancient knowledge of indigenous and indigenous peoples be more regularly incorporated into scientific knowledge? is the question posed to the main researcher of the study. “This kind of collaboration has to start from the beginning: letting indigenous communities help. Decide what questions the reasons and reasons for research should be taken into account,” he replies.

Arterberry concludes: “The main causes Keeping tradition alive involves maintaining knowledge of who we are and where we come from.respecting all forms of life, praising our ancestors who led life, and thanking the creator for giving it to us”.

Reference article: https://www.agenciasinc.es/Noticias/Los-caballos-espanoles-entraron-en-las-Grandes-Llanuras-antes-que-los-europeos

Reference work: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adc9691

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Contact address of the environment department: [email protected]

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