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During Construction Work in Stuttgart, Archaeologists Discovered an Ancient Horse Cemetery Linked to a Roman Cavalry Unit, Revealing Unprecedented Details About Care and Bonds with Animals
An excavation carried out in Stuttgart, Germany, revealed one of the most remarkable archaeological finds in recent times. In the Bad Cannstatt neighborhood, about 100 horse skeletons were discovered, all dating back to the 2nd century A.D. The discovery offers a rare glimpse into the relationship between Roman Empire soldiers and the animals that accompanied them in battles and daily life.
Find Occurred During Civil Work
The find occurred in July 2024, during a construction project in the area. Upon noticing the presence of bones in the ground, the works were halted.
The excavation became supervised by the State Office for Monument Preservation. It was confirmed that there was an area used for burying horses, directly linked to an ancient Roman cavalry unit.
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According to archaeologists, the horse skeletons were not randomly placed. One of the horses was buried carefully, along with two jars and a small oil lamp.
These objects are typically found in human graves, reinforcing the idea that some knights developed strong bonds with their animals.
Cavalry Unit Had Hundreds of Horses
According to the specialists involved in the project, Bad Cannstatt was an important Roman military site in the early 2nd century A.D. At that time, a troop called “Ala” was stationed in Hallschlag, a neighborhood in the region. The unit consisted of about 500 cavalrymen and is estimated to have housed over 700 horses.
Archaeologist Sarah Roth from the State Office for Monument Preservation explained that the horse skeletons found can be directly attributed to this troop.
She also commented on the group’s routine: the horses needed shelter, constant feeding, and when they were no longer fit for military service, they were killed and buried in appropriate locations.
Cemetery Had Clear Organization
The horses found were buried in shallow, separate graves. The excavations indicate that each tomb was visually marked, as the spaces do not overlap. This shows that there was some care in how the animals were disposed of.
However, Sarah Roth pointed out that the process was more of a disposal than a formal burial. Most of the horses died from natural causes, diseases, injuries, or simply because they were no longer fit for military use.
When this occurred, horses still capable of walking were taken to the site where they were to be sacrificed, thus avoiding the transportation of carcasses.
A Man Was Buried Among the Horses
Among the remains of the animals, archaeologists also found the skeleton of an adult man. The body was not accompanied by any objects or funerary items, indicating that, for Roman society at the time, he was not worthy of a formal burial.
The discovery drew attention precisely because of this contrast: while one of the horses was honored with symbolic items, the human was buried without any sign of respect.
Work Now Continues with Detailed Analysis
The main excavation has been completed, but researchers believe that the horse cemetery is even larger than the part discovered so far.
The next step will be conducting archaeozoological studies. Scientists will try to determine the sex, age, physical stature, possible diseases, and even the causes of death of the animals. This information should provide a more complete understanding of the use of horses by the Roman army.
City Name Reinforces Historical Connection to Horses
The discovery made in Bad Cannstatt gained further prominence due to the very origin of the city’s name. Stuttgart comes from the ancient term “Stuotgarten,” which means “a garden for horses.”
Thus, the archaeological find not only offers important historical data but also rescues a symbolic link to the region’s past.
The relationship between Roman cavalrymen and their combat animals remains alive, even 1,800 years later.
With information from Giz Modo.
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