The mount of a wealthy Merovingian horseman was buried alongside him in the 7th century. But archaeologists cannot explain why the horse was buried without its head.
It is in Knittlingen, in the south west of Germany that this strange burial was exhumed. it is part of an archaeological site explored since the early twenties after its discovery during the construction of a railway line. New excavations were undertaken from 2020 on the occasion of the opening of a building site. And archaeologists from the State Office for the Preservation of Monuments of the Regional Council of Stuttgart are not complaining: the richness of the 110 Merovingian tombs, which date back more than 1400 years, is exceptional.
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Some of the tombs are funerary chambers containing a wide variety of weapons and jewelry that have stood the test of time despite numerous lootings. Amulets, belt buckles and earrings, gold brooches, dress clasps, bronze bowls give a clear idea of the opulence of this community. Small ceramic plates have even been unearthed that once contained food intended for the dead.
The Merovingian horseman, buried with his sword to his right. © State Office for the Preservation of Monuments in the Regional Council of Stuttgart/ F. Damminger
As for the headless horse, it is buried next to its owner, a military leader buried with his spear and spatha, a double-edged sword used by Merovingian horsemen. “One of the functions of this funeral ceremony was to portray the deceased in their former status and wealth, as a message to their descendants to maintain their rank,” archaeologist Folke Damminger told Live Science. responsible for the excavations. His mount was part of his personal property and it is normal that it rests at his side. But why is she so mutilated? Was the horse, whose head could not be found, sacrificed during the funeral ceremony? Did he die accidentally? For now, archaeologists have no answers to these questions…
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