The modern horse, a vital companion that has shaped human civilization, has been traced back to a 4,000-year-old lineage originating in the Eurasian Steppe, according to recent scientific research published in the journal Nature.
A team of scientists analyzed 475 ancient horse genomes from archaeological sites across Eurasia, dating back 50,000 years. Their findings revealed that around 4,200 years ago, a specific horse lineage emerged in the Pontic-Caspian Steppe—a vast plains region stretching from what is now northeastern Bulgaria across Ukraine and southern Russia. This lineage rapidly became dominant across Eurasia, suggesting it was at this time that humans began to domesticate and spread these horses widely.
“We saw this genetic type spreading almost everywhere in Eurasia—clearly, this horse type that was local became global very fast,” said Ludovic Orlando, a molecular archaeologist at the Centre for Anthropobiology and Genomics of Toulouse in France and co-author of the study.
The dominance of this lineage is attributed to the Sintashta culture, a Bronze Age people who are believed to have domesticated these horses. Equipped with newly domesticated horses, the Sintashta expanded their territory dramatically across Eurasia, influencing cultures and societies throughout the region, including those in Asia.
Notably, this lineage of horses carried a genetic mutation that altered the shape of their backs, likely making them more comfortable to ride. This adaptation would have revolutionized transportation, trade, and warfare, playing a significant role in the development of civilizations across Asia and Europe.
The domestication of horses was a transformative event in human history, particularly in Asia, where it facilitated the movement of peoples, goods, and ideas along routes such as the ancient Silk Road. The new findings provide deeper insights into how humans selectively bred horses to suit their needs, leading to the rapid spread of this lineage.
“Humans changed the horse genome stunningly quickly, perhaps because we already had experience dealing with animals,” commented Laurent Frantz, a geneticist at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich who was not involved in the study. “It shows the special place of horses in human societies.”
Understanding the origins of modern horses not only sheds light on the past but also helps us appreciate the long-standing relationship between humans and horses—a bond that continues to influence cultures and economies across Asia today.
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Scientists trace origin of the modern horse to a 4,000-year lineage
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