Archaeologists recently announced the discovery of more than 100 buried horses dating back to ancient Rome - but no bones were found in Italy.
The excavation was conducted in the southwestern German borough of Bad Cannstatt, he said, April 16 press release from the Baden-Württemberg Monument Conservation Office (LAD).
The statement translated from German to English, noting that the town was one of the "most important Roman military sites" in the area in ancient times. A cavalry unit there boasted about 700 horses at its peak.
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Images from the website show that the horse skeleton is buried in the soil as excavators work hard to clean them.
The excavation began last July and the recent construction project “requires archaeological investigations”, LAD said.
Archaeologists have discovered more than 100 horse bones at German ruins. Scientists believe that over time, horses are taken there instead of dying in a battle. (Stuttgart Regional Commission/Archaeology’s National Monument Conservation Office.)
Experts say the remains have a history of less than 200,000 years, dating back to the second century AD
"The first horse bone found dates back to the second century," said Sarah Roth, an archaeologist at LAD.
“Based on the archaeological and historical knowledge of the Roman Bad Cantat, these horses can be attributed to the cavalry unit - a so-called 'ala' - stationed in Hallschlag about 100 to 150 AD."
She also noted that "the unit of nearly 500 riders may have a horse stock of at least 700 animals, and the losses need to be continuously replaced."
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The horses were buried about a quarter of a mile from the Cavalry Fort and one and eight miles from the civilian residence.
"The bodies are usually dragged alone into shallow pits, where they are buried on the side legs or on the curved sides," Rud explained in a statement.
"The site is likely to be marked above the ground. Despite sometimes dense arrangements, there is little overlap of pits."
The horses discovered by archaeologists still date back to the second century AD (Stuttgart Regional Commission/ArchaeoBW’s State Monument Conservation Office)
Ross added that in a single game, such as in a fight, the horse does not seem to die.
Instead, these animals may be ill or injured when buried, or may not be suitable for military service.
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"If the horse is still able to walk, it will be taken to the horse cemetery and killed at the scene to avoid transporting heavy bodies," she said.
Archaeologists believe that cemeteries are broader than construction sites themselves, but their exact size is not yet known.
Several ancient Roman tombs have been discovered in the past year.
Interestingly, some horses are buried together, perhaps tokens for the journey of death.
An animal was found with two jugs and a small oil lamp, and the items "bent it into arms like saying goodbye."
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"Here we see the bond between the owner and his horse is particularly close," Ross said. "Even after about 1800 years, the grief of the death of this animal is still obvious."
Several ancient Roman tombs have been discovered in the past year.
The excavation took place in Bad Cannstatt, a borough in southwestern Germany. (Stuttgart Regional Commission/ArchaeoBW’s State Monument Conservation Office)
In Vienna, Austria, archaeologists recently discovered a large-scale grave containing the remains of Roman soldiers and Germanic tribes under the football field.
Earlier this year, a very well-preserved dog was found in an ancient Roman ruin in Belgium, highlighting the prevalence of ancient animal sacrifice.
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Ashlyn Messier of Fox News Digital contributed to the report.