Symbolic Metal Bit and Saddlebag Fastenings in a Middle Bronze Age Donkey Burial

Guy Bar-Oz; Pirhiya Nahshoni; Hadas Motro; Eliezer D. Oren

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0058648

Symbolic Metal Bit and Saddlebag Fastenings in a Middle Bronze Age Donkey Burial

Guy Bar-Oz, Pirhiya Nahshoni, Hadas Motro, Eliezer D. Oren

University of Haifa, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Here we report the unprecedented discovery of the skeleton of a ritually interred donkey with a metal horse bit in association with its teeth and saddlebag fastenings on its back. This discovery in the Middle Bronze Age III sacred precinct (1700/1650-1550 BCE) at Tel Haror, Israel, presents a unique combination of evidence for the early employment of equid harnessing equipment, both for chariot bridling (horse bit) and pack animals (saddlebags). The ritually deposited donkey with its unique accoutrements advances our understanding of the broad social and religious significance of equids in the Levantine Bronze Age, previously known mainly from textual and iconographical sources.

Original language	American English
Article number	e58648
Journal	PLoS ONE
Volume	8
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0058648
State	Published - 6 Mar 2013

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

General

Access to Document

10.1371/journal.pone.0058648

Cite this

@article{83f5fc3f6dfb4c579b6d0e82a4615ba5,

title = "Symbolic Metal Bit and Saddlebag Fastenings in a Middle Bronze Age Donkey Burial",

abstract = "Here we report the unprecedented discovery of the skeleton of a ritually interred donkey with a metal horse bit in association with its teeth and saddlebag fastenings on its back. This discovery in the Middle Bronze Age III sacred precinct (1700/1650-1550 BCE) at Tel Haror, Israel, presents a unique combination of evidence for the early employment of equid harnessing equipment, both for chariot bridling (horse bit) and pack animals (saddlebags). The ritually deposited donkey with its unique accoutrements advances our understanding of the broad social and religious significance of equids in the Levantine Bronze Age, previously known mainly from textual and iconographical sources.",

author = "Guy Bar-Oz and Pirhiya Nahshoni and Hadas Motro and Oren, {Eliezer D.}",

note = "Funding Information: The Tel Haror saddlebags may have been crafted specifically for the occasion of the donkey burial in the temple precinct. This suggestion is supported by the distinctively small sized bags, 35.0×20.0 cm, and the ritual context of the specimen. The saddlebags may have been used to carry certain valuable items .",

year = "2013",

month = mar,

day = "6",

doi = "10.1371/journal.pone.0058648",

language = "American English",

volume = "8",

journal = "PLoS ONE",

issn = "1932-6203",

publisher = "Public Library of Science",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Symbolic Metal Bit and Saddlebag Fastenings in a Middle Bronze Age Donkey Burial

AU - Bar-Oz, Guy

AU - Nahshoni, Pirhiya

AU - Motro, Hadas

AU - Oren, Eliezer D.

N1 - Funding Information: The Tel Haror saddlebags may have been crafted specifically for the occasion of the donkey burial in the temple precinct. This suggestion is supported by the distinctively small sized bags, 35.0×20.0 cm, and the ritual context of the specimen. The saddlebags may have been used to carry certain valuable items .

PY - 2013/3/6

Y1 - 2013/3/6

N2 - Here we report the unprecedented discovery of the skeleton of a ritually interred donkey with a metal horse bit in association with its teeth and saddlebag fastenings on its back. This discovery in the Middle Bronze Age III sacred precinct (1700/1650-1550 BCE) at Tel Haror, Israel, presents a unique combination of evidence for the early employment of equid harnessing equipment, both for chariot bridling (horse bit) and pack animals (saddlebags). The ritually deposited donkey with its unique accoutrements advances our understanding of the broad social and religious significance of equids in the Levantine Bronze Age, previously known mainly from textual and iconographical sources.

AB - Here we report the unprecedented discovery of the skeleton of a ritually interred donkey with a metal horse bit in association with its teeth and saddlebag fastenings on its back. This discovery in the Middle Bronze Age III sacred precinct (1700/1650-1550 BCE) at Tel Haror, Israel, presents a unique combination of evidence for the early employment of equid harnessing equipment, both for chariot bridling (horse bit) and pack animals (saddlebags). The ritually deposited donkey with its unique accoutrements advances our understanding of the broad social and religious significance of equids in the Levantine Bronze Age, previously known mainly from textual and iconographical sources.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84874615345&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0058648

DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0058648

M3 - Article

C2 - 23484046

SN - 1932-6203

VL - 8

JO - PLoS ONE

JF - PLoS ONE

IS - 3

M1 - e58648

ER -

Symbolic Metal Bit and Saddlebag Fastenings in a Middle Bronze Age Donkey Burial

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this