Fossil - Forelimb of a wild horse (Equus ferus)

Fossil - Wild horse (Equus ferus) forelimb, single specimen

Foot of an ancient, extinct wild horse (Equus ferus) forelimb. Pleistocene period , about 900,000 - 11,650 years ago, North Sea. The fossil has been treated with a protective layer of shellac. Size about 155mm x 49mm x 27mm. Weight about 199g.

The wild horse (Equus ferus) is an ancient mammal species of the equine family (Equus). The horse is generally considered to be divided into three subspecies: the domestic horse, the Przewalski's horse (Mongolian wild horse), and the now extinct tarpan. During the mid-Pleistocene, the wild horse was common in the Americas, Eurasia, and North Africa. During the Late Pleistocene, several other subspecies of E. ferus occurred, all of which have since become extinct.

Symbol meaning

The horse has symbolized freedom, courage and endurance throughout history. Over the millennia, it has been a mystical symbol of strength, companionship, diligence, sexuality and work. The horse has been depicted in art perhaps the most after humans. Horses have been considered to have supernatural properties, specifically related to speed, strength, intelligence and fertility. The ancient Celts, Gauls, Aryans, Teutons and other Germanic tribes are known to have worshipped horses or horse-like gods. Horses were also sacrificed during various religious ceremonies. For example, during the Scandinavian Iron Age, horses were often sacrificed in swamps and wetlands. These uninhabitable areas were considered to be pathways to the afterlife. For Native American peoples, the horse has always been a sacred creature representing freedom. For example, the Dakota and Lakota believe that the horse (sun'ka wakan) came to humans as a gift from "thunder" (Wakinyan).

Ritual use

Note! Fossils and ancient bones are natural products that are tens or hundreds of thousands, even millions of years old, so each one is unique. Therefore, colors, shapes and brightness may vary. The condition varies from fair to good and they have wear, fractures and small chips typical of fossils.