News Archaeology

Horse domestication traced to ancient central Asian culture

Bone and chemical analyses indicate horses were harnessed and even milked more than 5,000 years ago in central Asia

By Bruce Bower

- More than 2 years ago

Central Asia’s vast grasslands hosted a prehistoric revolution in transportation, communication and warfare, thanks to the humble horse. Remains from Kazakhstan’s more than 5,000-year-old Botai culture have yielded the earliest direct evidence for domestication of these versatile beasts, scientists report.