Early dispersal of domestic horses into the Great Plains and northern Rockies

The horse is central to many Indigenous cultures across the American Southwest and the Great Plains. However, when and how horses were first integrated into Indigenous lifeways remain contentious, with extant models derived largely from colonial records. We conducted an interdisciplinary study of an assemblage of historic archaeological horse remains, integrating genomic, isotopic, radiocarbon, and paleopathological evidence. Archaeological and modern North American horses show strong Iberian genetic affinities, with later influx from British sources, but no Viking proximity. Horses rapidly spread from the south into the northern Rockies and central plains by the first half of the 17th century CE, likely through Indigenous exchange networks. They were deeply integrated into Indigenous societies before the arrival of 18th-century European observers, as reflected in herd management, ceremonial practices, and culture.Fil: Taylor, William Timothy Treal. University of Colorado; Estados UnidosFil: Librado, Pablo. Université Paul Sabatier; FranciaFil: Hunska Tašunke Icu, Mila. Pine Ridge Reservation; Estados UnidosFil: Shield Chief Gover, Carlton. University of Colorado; Estados Unidos. Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma; Estados UnidosFil: Arterberry, Jimmy. Galindo Environmental Consulting LLC; Estados UnidosFil: Luta Wiƞ, Anpetu. Pine Ridge Reservation; Estados UnidosFil: Nujipi, Akil. Pine Ridge Reservation; Estados UnidosFil: Omniya, Tanka. Pine Ridge Reservation; Estados UnidosFil: Gonzalez, Mario. Pine Ridge Reservation; Estados UnidosFil: Means, Bill. Pine Ridge Reservation; Estados Unidos. International Indian Treaty Council; Estados UnidosFil: High Crane, Sam. Rosebud Indian Reservation; Estados UnidosFil: Dull Knife, Barbara. Pine Ridge Reservation; Estados Unidos. Rosebud Indian Reservation; Estados UnidosFil: Wiƞ, Wakiƞyala. Pine Ridge Reservation; Estados UnidosFil: Tecumseh Collin, Cruz. Pine Ridge Reservation; Estados UnidosFil: Ward, Chance. Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe; Estados Unidos. University of Colorado; Estados UnidosFil: Pasqual, Theresa A.. No especifíca;Fil: Chauvey, Lorelei. Université Paul Sabatier; FranciaFil: Tonasso Calviere, Laure. Université Paul Sabatier; FranciaFil: Schiavinato, Stéphanie. Université Paul Sabatier; FranciaFil: Seguin Orlando, Andaine. Université Paul Sabatier; FranciaFil: Fages, Antoine. Université Paul Sabatier; Francia. University of Basel; SuizaFil: Khan, Naveed. Université Paul Sabatier; Francia. Abdul Wali Khan University; PakistánFil: Der Sarkissian, Clio. Université Paul Sabatier; FranciaFil: Eché, Camille. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique; FranciaFil: Belardi, Juan Bautista. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia de Santa Cruz. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Santa Cruz. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia de Santa Cruz. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia de Santa Cruz; ArgentinaFil: Wincker, Patrick. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; Francia. Universite Paris-Saclay ;Fil: Bethke, Brandi. Oklahoma State University; Estados UnidosFil: Roberts, Patrick. Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology; AlemaniaFil: Jones, Emily Lena. University of New Mexico; Estados UnidosFil: Running Horse Collin, Yvette. Université Paul Sabatier; Francia. Pine Ridge Reservation; Estados UnidosFil: Orlando, Ludovic. Université Paul Sabatier; Franci

Early dispersal of domestic horses into the Great Plains and northern Rockies

International audienceThe horse is central to many Indigenous cultures across the American Southwest and the Great Plains. However, when and how horses were first integrated into Indigenous lifeways remain contentious, with extant models derived largely from colonial records. We conducted an interdisciplinary study of an assemblage of historic archaeological horse remains, integrating genomic, isotopic, radiocarbon, and paleopathological evidence. Archaeological and modern North American horses show strong Iberian genetic affinities, with later influx from British sources, but no Viking proximity. Horses rapidly spread from the south into the northern Rockies and central plains by the first half of the 17th century CE, likely through Indigenous exchange networks. They were deeply integrated into Indigenous societies before the arrival of 18th-century European observers, as reflected in herd management, ceremonial practices, and culture