Wednesday, September 25, 2024

The Origin of Horseback Riding

Tracing The Origins of Horseback Riding by Kambiz Kamrani

Am I just being picky here, or is "rewriting" too strong a term?  The evidence undermines confidence in the Kurgan Hypothesis in the usual method of "Not so fast.  Don't overclaim here." 

Horseback riding can indeed leave subtle marks on the human body. The study, conducted by archaeologists, utilized evidence from medical studies of modern equestrians and examined human remains spanning thousands of years. Their findings suggest that activities like horseback riding can influence skeletal structures, particularly in the hip joint, where the ball and socket may become elongated over time. However, the researchers caution that this type of skeletal change is not exclusive to riding; other activities, such as prolonged sitting or riding in carts, can also produce similar alterations.

But it doesn't provide support for any rival hypothesis that I can see. Well, it could be horseback riding.  It might even be exclusively horseback riding. But it could be other things as well, like sitting or riding in carts. That doesn't seem to be "rewriting" our understanding. I know science progresses by small increments, each important, but this one doesn't move the needle much, to my view.

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