Folia archeologica 52.

Vörös István: Ló az Árpád-kori Magyarországon

210 VÖRÖS ISTV ÁN 5 pieces of lumbar vertebrae altogether. In the case of the Csengele horse, the number of lumbar vertebrae is 6, but the sacrais are one less, that is, comprising only 4 pieces. With a shorter lumbar region, the horse can carry load more easily. For determining the racial character or breed of the Csengele horse, it is worth while to compare the dimensions of the skeleton with known full-blooded horses from the 19

t

h century (2 English and 1 Arab) horses (Table 5.). Dimensions of the bone and the skeleton of the 13th century Csengele stallion clearlv show similarity to the 12 years old Arab mare. The similarities in the dimensions and ratios are clearly observable, in spite of the difference in sex. It can lead us to the following conclusions: 1, the Csengele stallion was one of the best Arab horses in the Mediaeval times, 2., at the Near East, most specifically, in Arabia there was a basic type of horse the habit and constitution of which did not change during the centuries. The Csengele horse of the Rumanian warrior can be assigned conveniently, on the basis of anatomical features and the dimensions of the body to the large group of Arab horses. The same result is indicated by the genetical investigations of the horse, [see article by Katalin Priskin (biologist, 2005., MTA. Szeged Biological Research Centre) in the same volume]. HIPPO LOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE HORSES FROM THE ARPAD-DYNASTY PERIOD For the correct evaluation of the significance of the Csengele Mediaeval Arabs stallion in respect of zoology, cultural history and luppology we have to revise briefly the data on Mediaeval horses from Hungary. Zoological features of the horses are known from the osteological study of their, mainly archaeological remains, their colour, value and use, conditions of their husbandry and the size of the studs can be inferred from coeval written sources, i.e., charted data. The investigation of archaeozoological evidence of the settlements of I he Árpád-Dynasty period proved that in frequency, horse remains immediately followed the three important domestic animals (i.e., cattle, sheep and pig). The number of known bone remains is 2562 pieces, f0.8% of total domestic mammals (data from 2000). Written records concerning the animal stock of the Árpád-Dynasty period as well as archaeological evidence show that the relative importance of sheep, pig and horse is the same in both series of data (Table 6.). The basic difference is in the frequency of cattle: while according to the praedium (seignioral domestic economy), the individual number of cattle is the smallest (7,5 %), in the excavation material, they are the most frequent ones (48,2%). In the cattle stock of 610 pieces mentioned, there were 560 oxen and only 50 cows. The average number of horses kept on the praedium is about ca. 20 indiv iduals. The average withers height of 48 known horses from the Árpád-Dynasty period is: 140.6 cm, ranging from 124.3 cm to 147.0 cm. Distribution of the horses according to size categories Numberof individuals Size range Withers height Breeds 4 small 124.3-127.5 cm ponies 16 low 130.4-136.0 cm ponies 14 small medium 136.4—140.0 cm ponies corrected with Arab horses 7 large medium 140.8-144.0 cm ponies corrected with Arab horses, and Arab horses 7 tall 144.5-147.0 cm Arab horses