Byzantine horse skeletons of Theodosius harbour: 1.Paleopathology

Abstract

Archaeological excavations were started in 2004 during the Yenikapi station project which is the most important change centre of Metro railway system and Marmaray hub passage in the European side. Many antique shipwrecks have been revealed and the area was confirmed as the Theodosius harbour. On the 58.000 m(2) excavation area many archaeological items and scattered horse skeletons were recovered. By examining those horse skeletons, their relation with the Theodosius harbour were studied and questions about the management conditions and rearing purposes of Byzantine horses were tried to be answered. It was thought that the Byzantine horses had been used for riding and loading at Yenikapi. in an attempt to give the presumptive reasons of pathologies on those skeletons.