Horse Burial in Lombard Italy: Crossing Cultural and Afterlife Boundaries in Social Representation

Horse burials in Lombard Italy, introduced during the migration of the Lombards in 568 AD, served as cultural symbols representing unique status rather than solely reflecting a warrior's role. Unlike traditional associations with warriors, these burials included young women and non-warrior males, suggesting horses were emblems of social standing in death. The study focuses on the necropolis of Spilamberto, highlighting its unique association of horses with young ladies. Through analysis of human and equine remains, the research argues that horse burial customs were borrowed from warfare symbolism but primarily functioned as status markers, irrespective of an individual's involvement in warfare during life.

Mattioli, I. (2021). Horse Burial in Lombard Italy: Crossing Cultural and Afterlife Boundaries in Social Representation. Cheiron: The International Journal of Equine and Equestrian History, 1(1), 46–67. https://doi.org/10.22618/tp.cheiron.20211.1.233002