These images show a Roman chariot complete with the fossilised remains of horses which archaeologists have found as part of a burial ritual for “extremely wealthy families”.
Archaeologists from the City Museum Vinkovci and Insтιтute of Archaeology from Zagreb have discovered a Roman carriage on two wheels (known in Latin as a cisium) with horses at the Jankovacka Dubrava site close to the village of Stari Jankovci, near the city of Vinkovci, in eastern Croatia.
A large burial chamber was found in which the carriage with what appears to be two horses had been lain.
Curator Boris Kratofil explained to local media that the custom of burial under tumuli (an ancient burial mound) was an exceptional burial ritual during the Roman period in the south of the Pannoinan Basin.
He said: “The custom is ᴀssociated with extremely wealthy families who have played a prominent role in the administrative, social and economic life of the province of Pannonia.”
The discovery is estimated to be from the third century AD but the team of scientists are working to confirm its age.
He said: “After this comes a long process of restoration and conservation of the findings, but also a complete analysis of the findings.
“In a few years we will know a little more about the family whose members were buried in this area decades ago, 1800 years ago.
“We are more interested in the horses themselves, that is, whether they were bred here or came from other parts of the empire, which will tell us more about the importance and wealth of this family.
“We will achieve this through cooperation with domestic as well as numerous European insтιтutions.”
