Discoveries suggest that horse domestication began around four thousand years ago, marking a significant shift in the equine world. Within a short span of time, these domesticated horses replaced their wild counterparts, evolving into the modern domestic horse we know today. These findings challenge traditional beliefs about the origins, timing, and individuals involved in horse domestication, according to Ludovic Orlando, a molecular archaeologist and director of the Center for Anthropobiology and Genomics of Toulouse in France. The Yamnaya people from southwest Asia, previously thought to be the first horseback riders, played a crucial role in this transformation. They migrated to Europe and Asia around 5,000 years ago, bringing with them cattle-drawn carts and contributing to the development of major Bronze Age cultures in the region. Their influence extended to spreading Indo-European languages and leaving a genetic legacy that includes a higher susceptibility to diseases like multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s.
2024-06-06 11:31:43
Source: www.sciencenews.org