Deep Bond Between a Roman Soldier and His Steed

 

1,800-Year-Old Horse Buried with Grave Goods Suggests Deep Bond Between a Roman Soldier and His Steed

Archaeologists were preparing for the construction of a new housing development when they discovered more than 100 equine skeletons dating to the second century CE.

Sarah Kuta
Sarah Kuta - Daily Correspondent
1 May 2025, 10:45 am

Archaeologists unearthed more than 100 horse skeletons near the site of a Roman military base. State Office for Monument Preservation in the Stuttgart Regional Council / ArchaeoBW

Roughly 1,800 years ago, a Roman cavalry horse died of unknown causes. Its human rider, a Roman soldier, buried the animal in a shallow grave. As a parting gesture, the soldier tucked a few mementoes into the crook of one of the horse’s legs: two jugs and a small oil lamp—“items commonly associated with human graves in Roman culture,” as Nisha Zahid of the Greek Reporter writes.

That’s the scenario archaeologists believe unfolded nearly two millennia ago in what is now southern Germany. They recently uncovered the equine skeleton and the accompanying grave goods while excavating a vast Roman horse cemetery in Stuttgart, according to a statement from the State Office for Monument Preservation of the Stuttgart Regional Council.

The discovery was made last summer while preparations were underway for the construction of a new housing development. In total, over 100 horse skeletons were uncovered, and radiocarbon dating revealed they dated from the second century CE.

Horse Skeleton and Grave Goods

One of the horses appears to have been buried with grave goods, suggesting that the animal and its rider shared a deep bond. State Office for Monument Preservation in the Stuttgart Regional Council / ArchaeoBW

The horses were likely part of a Roman cavalry unit stationed in the area from approximately 100 to 150 CE. At the time, the region was home to an important Roman military base.

Historians believe the cavalry unit probably consisted of over 700 horses and nearly 500 men. When the animals died, they were buried in a designated area. The skeletons were found about 400 metres from the site of the cavalry fort.

Each horse appeared to have been dragged into a shallow pit and then laid on its side. Some horses were buried with their legs bent, while others had their legs stretched out.

The horse that was buried with grave goods seems to be the exception rather than the rule, as archaeologists found no other animals buried in a similar manner. The grave goods suggest the owner had a very close bond with his steed.

"Even after around 1,800 years, the grief over the death of this one animal is still apparent," said Sarah Roth, the archaeologist in charge of the dig, in a statement, as translated by Tim Newcomb of Popular Mechanics.

Archaeologists believe Roman soldiers marked the location of each grave, as there was little overlap between the burial sites.

Individual Deaths, Not Mass Casualties

The horses did not die at the same time from a major event, such as an outbreak of disease or a battle. Instead, it seems they died one by one, likely due to illnesses or injuries that rendered them unable to continue with their military duties. Archaeologists believe that if a horse could still walk, it was probably led to the cemetery and then euthanised on site, so soldiers wouldn’t have to drag its heavy body.

The body of an adult man was also found among the horses. The man was discovered lying face down, with no grave goods. He was "seemingly an 'outsider' buried with little care," as Kaleena Fraga of All That’s Interesting writes.

This is not the first time archaeologists have found equine remains in the area. As early as the 1920s, crews constructing residential buildings stumbled upon equine skeletons and began referring to the site as a Roman horse cemetery. (Coincidentally, Stuttgart means "a garden for horses." The city’s origins trace back to a 10th-century stud farm.)

A Larger Horse Cemetery?

Archaeologists believe they have only scratched the surface of the site. They suspect the horse cemetery is larger than the area they have already excavated.

In the future, researchers hope to study the remains to determine the horses' sex, age, size, cause of death, and overall health. They also hope to learn more about how the Romans kept, fed, and bred the animals.

Special thanks to the smithsonian magazine