French archaeologists have discovered nine large graves containing the remains of horses up to 2000 years old, a find that was deemed "extraordinary", writes The Guardian.
28 horses, all about six years old, were buried soon after they died, according to the findings.
Experts from France's National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (Inrap) say the remains date to the Gallic Wars, around the end of the Roman occupation of what was then Gaul and the beginning of the ancient Roman empire.
They are examining the remains to see if the animals were buried after being killed in battle or as part of a complex ritual. An episode of animal disease is considered unlikely as only adult male horses were buried, but the remains are being examined for parasites.
The discovery came after archaeologists excavated a 5th to 6th century site at Villedieu-sur-Indre in central France, where buildings, canals and a medieval road have also been found. The first pit discovered contained 10 horse remains. The animals, measuring only 1.2 meters, said to be typical of Gallic horses at the time, were buried deep.
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The discovery of the graves is similar to previous discoveries elsewhere in France. At Gondole in Puy-de-Dome in 2002, archaeologists discovered a rectangular tomb containing the bodies of eight Iron Age warriors and their horses in what appeared to be a Celtic tomb.
Isabelle Pichon, who led the archaeological operation for Inrap, said that the latest discovery was "extraordinary, but a mystery".
