Paleopathological changes in an early iron age horse skeleton from the Central Balkans (Serbia)

During a rescue archeological excavation in 2012 at the site of Ranutovac-Meanište near Vranje, southern Serbia, remains of an Early Iron Age (Hallstatt B-C) settlement were revealed. In one of the settlement pits a complete horse skeleton was discovered. The skeleton belongs to a mare, aged 4-5 years at death. In this paper, paleopathological changes in the horse skeleton are described and analyzed using macroscopic, radiographic and scanning electron microscopy techniques to interpret the possible use of the animal. Potential bitting damage is observed in the lower second premolars (P₂) and mandibular diastema. Several pathologies are recorded in thoracic (T_10-17) and lumbar vertebrae (L₁). Paleopathological changes in forelimbs are restricted to the lower leg bones. Bone changes in the hind-limbs, beside the metatarsals and the first phalanges, are also observed in the right femur, right calcaneum and both tibiae. These paleopathological changes were caused by chronic inflammation of ligaments as a consequence of the intensive exploitation of the animal, most likely riding. This paper is one of the first publications of animal paleopathology in Serbia and the first identified example of coxofemoral osteochondrosis in horse in the paleopathological literature.