Widespread horse-based mobility arose around 2200 bce in Eurasia
Authors: Librado Pablo , Tressières Gaetan , Chauvey Lorelei , Fages Antoine , Khan Naveed , Schiavinato Stéphanie , Calvière-Tonasso Laure , Kusliy Mariya A. , Gaunitz Charleen , Liu Xuexue , Wagner Stefanie , Der Sarkissian Clio , Seguin-Orlando Andaine , Perdereau Aude , Aury Jean-Marc , Southon John , Shapiro Beth , Bouchez Olivier , Donnadieu Cécile , Collin Yvette Running Horse , Gregersen Kristian M. , Jessen Mads Dengsø , Christensen Kirsten , Claudi-Hansen Lone , Pruvost Mélanie , Pucher Erich , Vulic Hrvoje , Novak Mario , Rimpf Andrea , Turk Peter , Reiter Simone , Brem Gottfried , Schwall Christoph , Barrey Éric , Robert Céline , Degueurce Christophe , Horwitz Liora Kolska , Klassen Lutz , Rasmussen Uffe , Kveiborg Jacob , Johannsen Niels Nørkjær , Makowiecki Daniel , Makarowicz Przemysław , Szeliga Marcin , Ilchyshyn Vasyl , Rud Vitalii , Romaniszyn Jan , Mullin Victoria E. , Verdugo Marta , Bradley Daniel G. , Cardoso João L. , Valente Maria J. , Telles Antunes Miguel , Ameen Carly , Thomas Richard , Ludwig Arne , Marzullo Matilde , Prato Ornella , Bagnasco Gianni Giovanna , Tecchiati Umberto , Granado José , Schlumbaum Angela , Deschler-Erb Sabine , Mráz Monika Schernig , Boulbes Nicolas , Gardeisen Armelle , Mayer Christian , Döhle Hans-Jürgen , Vicze Magdolna , Kosintsev Pavel A. , Kyselý René , Peške Lubomír , O’Connor Terry , Ananyevskaya Elina , Shevnina Irina , Logvin Andrey , Kovalev Alexey A. , Iderkhangai Tumur-Ochir , Sablin Mikhail V. , Dashkovskiy Petr K. , Graphodatsky Alexander S. , Merts Ilia , Merts Viktor , Kasparov Aleksei K. , Pitulko Vladimir V. , Onar Vedat , Öztan Aliye , Arbuckle Benjamin S. , McColl Hugh , Renaud Gabriel , Khaskhanov Ruslan , Demidenko Sergey , Kadieva Anna , Atabiev Biyaslan , Sundqvist Marie , Lindgren Gabriella , López-Cachero F. Javier , Albizuri Silvia , Trbojević Vukičević Tajana , Rapan Papeša Anita , Burić Marcel , Rajić Šikanjić Petra , Weinstock Jaco , Asensio Vilaró David , Codina Ferran , García Dalmau Cristina , Morer de Llorens Jordi , Pou Josep , de Prado Gabriel , Sanmartí Joan , Kallala Nabil , Torres Joan Ramon , Maraoui-Telmini Bouthéina , Belarte Franco Maria-Carme , Valenzuela-Lamas Silvia , Zazzo Antoine , Lepetz Sébastien , Duchesne Sylvie , Alexeev Anatoly , Bayarsaikhan Jamsranjav , Houle Jean-Luc , Bayarkhuu Noost , Turbat Tsagaan , Crubézy Éric , Shingiray Irina , Mashkour Marjan , Berezina Natalia Ya. , Korobov Dmitriy S. , Belinskiy Andrey , Kalmykov Alexey , Demoule Jean-Paul , Reinhold Sabine , Hansen Svend , Wallner Barbara , Roslyakova Natalia , Kuznetsov Pavel F. , Tishkin Alexey A. , Wincker Patrick , Kanne Katherine , Outram Alan , Orlando Ludovic 
Published: June 2024

AbstractHorses revolutionized human history with fast mobility1. However, the timeline between their domestication and their widespread integration as a means of transport remains contentious2–4. Here we assemble a collection of 475 ancient horse genomes to assess the period when these animals were first reshaped by human agency in Eurasia. We find that reproductive control of the modern domestic lineage emerged around 2200 bce, through close-kin mating and shortened generation times. Reproductive control emerged following a severe domestication bottleneck starting no earlier than approximately 2700 bce, and coincided with a sudden expansion across Eurasia that ultimately resulted in the replacement of nearly every local horse lineage. This expansion marked the rise of widespread horse-based mobility in human history, which refutes the commonly held narrative of large horse herds accompanying the massive migration of steppe peoples across Europe around 3000 bce and earlier3,5. Finally, we detect significantly shortened generation times at Botai around 3500 bce, a settlement from central Asia associated with corrals and a subsistence economy centred on horses6,7. This supports local horse husbandry before the rise of modern domestic bloodlines.