Medieval horse’s head found at the Colossseum

A horse’s head isn’t generally a good omen in Italy – or at least, not in Italy-based movie franchise The Godfather. But archaeologists at Rome’s Colosseum were delighted to stumble across a medieval equine skull on Tuesday.

Horse skull dating from the 12th or 13th century found at Colosseum [Credit: ANSA]

The find was made while cleaning the area around the steps to the monument’s basement, Rome’s Superintendent for Archaeology Francesco Prosperetti said.

The horse’s skull dates back to between the 12th and 13th centuries, according to an initial analysis by an archaeozoologist.

Horse bone fragments excavated at Colosseum [Credit: ANSA]

However, further tests will have to be carried out to reveal crucial information about the horse’s age, state of health, and to give clues as to what it was doing at the amphitheatre.

Plenty of animal remains have been found in the area around the Rome monument, with many on display in its museum.

Source: The Local [January 19, 2017]

TANN

Source TheArchaeologyNewsNetwork