Pages: 159-180 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.55086/sp263159180
A comparative morphometric analysis of postcranial skeletal elements of horses from 12 archaeological sites in the North Caucasus belonging to the Maeotian culture was conducted. Data from seven of these sites were published here for the first time. The external features of the animals were reconstructed, and the extent and direction of their morphological changes over the studied period were described using several statistical methods. A distinct horse breed was shown to have occurred in the peripheral region of the Meote area in the 8th century BC. It persisted mainly in the mountainous areas for about 300 more years, while hybridization between local and Scythian equines occurred in the steppe zone.
Keywords: domestic horses, Equus caballus, Maeotians, Scythians, North Caucasus, archaeozoology, morphometry
Information about authors:
Natalia Spasskaya (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Biologgical Sciences. Zoological Museum of the M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University. Bolshaya Nikitskaya, 2, Moscow, 125009, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
ORCID: 0000-0001-5197-5084
Marat Bakushev (Majkop, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. “Cultural Heritage” LLC . Pobedy St., 38, Maykop, 385000, Republic of Adygea, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
ORCID: 0000-0003-2958-2115
Kirill Dneprovsky (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. State Museum of Oriental Art . Nikitsky Boulevard 12a, 119019 Moscow, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
ORCID: 0000-0002-0489-6698
Nikolai Shevchenko (Majkop, Russian Federation). “Adygea Archaeology” LLC. Prokhladnaya St., 1G, Kamennomostsky Settlement, Kamennomostskoye Rural Settlement, Maykop Municipal District, Republic of Adygea, 385752, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
Olga Frizen (Moscow, Russian Federation). The State Museum of Oriental Art . Nikitsky Boulevard 12a, 119019 Moscow, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
ORCID: 0009-0000-7050-3429
Natalia Limberis (Krasnodar, Russian Federation). Kuban State University. Stavropolskaya St., 149, Krasnodar, 350040, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
ORCID: 0000-0003-0395-315X
Ivan Marchenko. Candidate of Historical Sciences.
ORCID: 0000-0001-7319-5214
Vladimir Erlich (Moscow, Russian Federation). Doctor of Historical Sciences. State Museum of Oriental Art . Nikitsky Boulevard 12a, 119019 Moscow, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
ORCID: 0000-0002-4060-5819