Approccio interdisciplinare per lo studio dei cavalli di Roma nel Medioevo

Equids have exerted a notable influence on the history of humanity. 2anks to the use of horses, people’s mobility, cultural exchanges and commercial activities have increased. 2e success of horses in war is also widely documented in the history of each conquest and expansion. One of the aspects of greatest interest is related to the di*usion of di*erent varieties selected for di*erent functions. Ancient sources attest to the presence of some varieties of horses that should have been widespread from Roman period onwards, linking them to the geographical areas from which they came. More than a simple geographical catalogue, some physical distinctions are also described. Zooarchaeological studies contribute to defining the history of the evolution of horses; however, di3culty in discriminating between equids (horses, donkeys and hybrids) represents a strong issue. Rome represents an ideal case study as several equid remains have been collected from archaeological contexts dated to a wide time period. 2is paper aims to present the first results of an interdisciplinary study including aDNA analysis, morphological and biometrical studies of ten equid remains in order to deepen our knowledge on the management of equids in medieval and post-medieval Rome.