Chinese Scientists go after horse ancestors.
Origin of domestic horses in China has come under the
scanner courtesy
Chinese archaeologists’ DNA study from
samples extracted from the bones of horses unearthed from
ancient sites.
Mr. Cai Dawei, a researcher of Jilin University in North
West China said that the research would offer valuable
clues on the study of horses in ancient China. Relic sites
dating back to the late Shang Dynasty (1600 B.C. – 1100
B.C.) yielded remains of domestic horses and carriages.
Xinhua news agency quoted Cai as saying that horses were
seldom found in China prior to the Shang Dynasty.
History of horses in China is very confusing. Study of DNA samples
extracted from horse remains in Yin Ruins and the ancient
city of Zhenghan in Henan Province as well as from other
sites are being undertaken to arrive at the truth.
Domestication of horses had a great influence on human
civilization in the past as it supplied milk, meat,
transportation and supported war efforts to a great extent.
Hence the eagerness of modern Chinese to know more about
the history of the horses in China.