Domestication Earlier Than Thought?

Published: August 25, 2011 03:09 pm EDT

According to a report, a recent archaeological find in Saudi Arabia is challenging the notion that the first domestication of horses took place in Central Asia 5,500 years ago

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An article by Red Orbit explains that the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities has announced the discovery of equine fossils at an excavation site which has been dated as being from 9,000 years ago.

“The al-Maqar civilization is a very advanced civilization of the Neolithic period. This site shows us clearly, the roots of the domestication of horses 9,000 years ago,” said HRH Prince Sultan bin Salman, the president of the SCTA.

The Prince went on to say, “The results of the excavation show that taking care of horses has been an old tradition inherited by Muslims from their forefathers. There is no wonder that during the time of Prophet Mohammed and the Caliphs, special areas had been allocated for breeding and rearing horses.”

(With files from Red Orbit)

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