"Elite Imported Horses of the Tudor Era: Uncovering London's Prestigious Equine Resting Place"
Researchers from the University of Exeter have analyzed a horse cemetery in Westminster, London, dating back to the late medieval and Tudor era, revealing the international scale of horse trading by the elites of that time. Using advanced archaeological science techniques, including studying chemical composition, the researchers identified the likely origins of physically elite horses imported from various locations across Europe for use in jousting tournaments and as status symbols. The analysis of horse skeletons and isotope tests on teeth provided unprecedented evidence for diverse horse movement and trading practices in the Middle Ages, shedding light on the breeding patterns and international scale of this trade.