Horse arrived earlier than expected: evidence of its consumption 5,000 years ago found in Sicily.
The horse, a symbol of mobility and power in Antiquity, may have entered the lives of Mediterranean communities earlier than previously documented. Researchers from the University of South Florida found traces of the oldest evidence of horse meat consumption on the island of Sicily in ceramic fragments, dating back to the third millennium BC. This discovery changes ideas about the domestication and use of horses in the central Mediterranean.
A groundbreaking discovery
The team led by archaeologist Davide Tanasi, along with Robert Tykot and Enrico Greco, analyzed ceramic remains from Mount Polizzello, a key settlement from the Bronze Age. They identified equine serum albumin — a protein specific to horses — in several vessels, including a large pedestal bowl probably used in banquets or community rituals. The study, published in PLOS ONE, demonstrates that horse meat was not only present but also part of shared stews. Until now, it was believed that horses did not reach Sicily until the first millennium BC, a thousand years later than indicated by this discovery.
The science behind the pottery
The key to this advancement lies in new proteomic and lipidomic analysis techniques, which allowed the identification of animal proteins and fats in the ceramics. These methods, non-existent when Tanasi excavated the site in 2005, confirmed that the inhabitants of the area cooked and consumed horse-derived products. The discovery was reinforced by the cultural context: alongside the ceramics, a large terracotta phallus appeared, pointing to fertility rituals in which horse meat may have played a role.
Cultural and economic repercussions
The early presence of horses in Sicily requires a reassessment of the historical narrative of their domestication in Europe. According to Tanasi, the discovery demonstrates that island communities accessed this transformative animal much earlier than previously thought. The horse not only altered mobility and warfare but also had an impact on agriculture, economy, and religious beliefs of ancient civilizations.
Furthermore, the finding suggests that horses were incorporated into both diet and rituals, providing new clues about their role in Mediterranean societies. Although not all details are known, researchers suggest that these communal feasts may have included prayers, songs, and dances, reinforcing the symbolic dimension of the animal.
A key piece in Mediterranean history
The discovery in Polizzello is not an isolated fact but a turning point. It forces a reconsideration of how horses spread in the Mediterranean and what role they played in the social and economic life of its inhabitants. For researchers, it is “the missing piece” in the puzzle of equine domestication on the island, with implications that extend to the entire Mediterranean basin.
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