[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989) › v1.c6.s6 # An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c6.s6: 1.6 Equidae An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c6.s6 - **Language:** English ### 1.6 Equidae ### [v1.c6.s6.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c6.s6.1) 1.6.1 \*Equus asinus\* (ass). The modern domesticated ass is descended from the almost extinct species—\*Equus asinus africanus\*. It is believed to have been domesticated in Egypt in \*c.\* 2000 B.C. and was probably introduced into India during the period of contact between the Indus valley and the Near East (Wheeler, 1968), whence it spread to other parts of the subcontinent. ### [v1.c6.s6.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c6.s6.2) Two wild species, \*Equus hemionus kiang\*, Tibetan wild ass, and \*Equus hemionus khur\*, Indian wild ass, are found today in the n. and w. (Rann of Kutch) respectively. The former is not domesticated, while the latter is readily tamed when young. Despite its potential usefulness (transport, milk, dung), its skeletal remains occur only infrequently. It is possible that the taboo on eating its flesh was applied because of its close affinity with the horse. Very occasionally the ass was used as a sacrificial animal (e.g. NAGARJUNAKONDA). ### [v1.c6.s6.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c6.s6.3) 1.6.2 \*Equus caballus\* (horse). The horse was primarily domesticated for labour and transport. There are no examples of its ancestral forms in India. Wild caballine horses were widespread in prehistoric and early historical Europe and Asia. Their descendants have either become extinct (e.g. Ukranian tarpan) or been domesticated, and only the Mongolian horse survives in a wild state. It appears likely that the horse was domesticated in \*c.\* 2000 B.C. in the region around Turkestan, although Europe and w. Asia are considered as alternative centres. Thence movements occurred both to the e. and w., and by \*c.\* 2000 B.C. it is found in Egypt and Mesopotamia. ### [v1.c6.s6.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c6.s6.4) In India the earliest evidence for the domesticated horse occurs in \*c.\* 4500 B.C. at BAGOR. Subsequently the true horse is reported from the Neolithic levels at KODEKAL and HALLUR and the late Harappa levels at Mohenjo-daro (Sewell and Guha, 1931) and ROPAR and at Harappa, LOTHAL and numerous other sites. UJJAIN and HASTINĀPURA are among the important Iron Age sites where there is evidence of the domesticated horse at an early date, and cut-marks on the bones from HASTINĀPURA (Period II) suggest the slaughter of the animal for food. At SURKOTADA bones of \*Equus caballus\* occur from Periods I A to I C (2100–1700 B.C.) along with those of \*Equus asinus\* and \*Equus hemionus\* (Sharma, 1974). Some of the caballine bones are charred; possibly the older animals were killed and eaten. Further study of the bones from this site might reveal skeletal changes which would indicate whether the animal was merely used for transport or was in fact also ridden. Recently bones of \*Equus caballus\* have also been reported from the proto-Harappa site of MALVAN in Gujarat. However the introduction of the horse into the subcontinent has sometimes been associated with the Indo-Aryans (Allchin, 1969). ## Linked texts (8) - [Harappā](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.harappa) - [Mohenjo-daro](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.mohenjo-daro) - [Lothal](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.lothal) - [Surkotada](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.surkotada) - [Hastināpura](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.hastinapura) - [Nāgārjunakoṇḍa](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.nagarjunakonda) - [Bagor](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.bagor) - [Kodekal](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.kodekal) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c6.s6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c6.s6) · Pramāṇa