Marta, Livius et al.: The Late Bronze Age Settlement of Nyíregyháza-Oros „Úr Csere” (Satu Mare, 2010)

X.Elisabeta Berendi: Archaeozoological Description of the Faunal Remnants

Element

GL

Bp

Dp

sb

sd

Bd

Dd

wh

metatarsus dext

261.5

47.7

45

29.7

28.4

45.8

32

1393.8

phalanx I ant

84

54.4

36.5

33.3

21.5

44.8

23.6

phalanx I ant

82

53.2

34

32.3

22.2

42.4

22.1

phalanx I post

77.7

52.4

35

33.7

24

40.7

23.3

phalanx II ant

45

50.6

29.7

45

21.9

50.5

25.8

phalanx II ant

42.5

51.1

28.5

43

21

48

20

phalanx III post

61

62.7

phalanx III post

53.7

Tab. 4: Some metrical data of Equus caballus bone elements

That one bone that provides possibility to calculate withers height is not enough to draw conclusions. However, after taming of the horses (cca. 4500 B.C.) in the southern Ukraine they were only used as a source of meat. This changed when horses were introduced to Central Europe. Their utilization as draught and saddle-horses became popular only in the 3rd and 1st millennium, and in Central and Eastern Europe this was their primary function for a long time (until the Roman time). Eurasian wild horses displayed withers heights of 125 to 135 cm, and after domestication this could change into bigger or smaller. Very little is known about horses from the territory and period analyzed in the present study, however this individual seems to be a forceful, super-middle type (with withers height belonging to the middle class’s second half8). This size also fits to the medium determined at Otomani18 19 (128-145 cm), same sizes of phalanx were measured at Sărata Monteoru20, bigger than the horse measured at Szombathely-Kámon21 (134.53) and those at Tiszaalpár22 (132.37 cm, but emphasizing the fact that these were concluded

18 After Kiesewalter (1888)

19 According to Haimovici (1987)

20 According to Haimovici (1994)

21 According to Vörös (1999)

22 According to Bökönyi (1982)

H5