Exhibit shows relationship with people
The latest exhibit at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, The Horse, is a comprehensive glimpse into the life of the equine.
In a winding, interactive exhibit, visitors can track the horse from its first known existence to how humans interact with horses today.
An impressive duo of skeletons featuring an adult human and a rearing equine greets the visitor, setting the stage for the exploration of the mutual relationship between man and beast.
The efforts of Butler County resident Sandra Olsen, curator of anthropology at the museum and co-curator of the exhibit, are seen in a video at the beginning of the display.
"From its origins more than 50 million years ago through its relationship with humans over the millennia to its roles in modern society, the horse has left an indelible mark on our world," said Olsen, who is continuing her research in the field.
The work builds on Olsen's research conducted since 1993 at Botai sites in Kazakhstan and Russia. The research was published in the March 6 issue of the academic journal Science.
Olsen was part of an international team of archaeologists that uncovered the earliest known evidence of horses being domesticated by humans.
The discovery suggests horses were both ridden and milked.
The video shows footage from that effort and of Olsen discussing the findings. She discusses tracing the horse's domestication back to the Botai culture of Kazakhstan about 5,500 years ago. This is about 1,000 years earlier than thought and about 2,000 years earlier than domestic horses are recorded in Europe.
"After decades of research by numerous scholars, we have finally identified concrete evidence for the earliest horse domestication. The finding of residues of ancient mare's milk residues in Botai pottery, in particular, is solid proof that the animal remains from our sites were not derived from wild individuals," Olsen said.
"This adds to earlier indications of domestication found by our team, including a corral, a preponderance of butchered horse bones, tools for making rawhide thongs for horse tack, manure used for insulation in building materials and horse sacrifices," she added.
A high definition video projection of a thoroughbred horse moving across a giant screen with great detail to the muscles and motion is accompanied by the thunderous sounds of hooves.
Another screen features a life-sized horse visitors can manipulate, all the while observing the anatomy and biology of the horse.
The common theme throughout the show is pairing humans with the creatures.This display also shows the anatomy of a human juxtaposed to that of the horse.The exhibit features how the horse helped humans hunt. Artifacts and artwork thoughtfully depict the early interactions between horses and humans beginning back with the Ice Age in Europe through present day. Tack, ceremonial decorations as well as chariots and a variety of carts pulled by horses through the years all tell their own story."How We Shaped Horses, How Horses Shaped Us" is conveyed through approaching the role of humans and the horse in five key areas: warfare, work, status and spirituality, trade and transportation, and sports. These five areas are depicted via artifacts, interactive exhibits and brief video kiosks.One video features a variety of media clips of horses in various celebrations, fairs and festivals around the world. This globe-trotting media includes images from Canada, Australia, Japan, Mongolia, the United Kingdom and Pakistan, just to name a few.A Winner's Circle display features the actual trophies from the Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes and Kentucky Derby and the award winning Triple Crown award that went to the horse Citation in 1948.There also is a display of polo items and information on race horses and harness racing that features the horse as an athlete.The final section and perhaps the most moving is that of An Enduring Bond, where the relationship between horse and human is explored. This display conveys the companionship aspect of the horse. It includes discussion of racing injuries, the protection of wild horses and characteristics of various breeds.A brief video depicts the relationship between a cowgirl and her horse, the relationship of a New York City mounted police officer and the relationship horses have with people with disabilities as they feature a therapeutic Riding facility."The Horse has been very popular, said museum spokesperson Moira Jones. "We have had a Horse lecture series in conjunction with the exhibition as well as various exciting educational programming," she added.The exhibit is co-curated by Ross MacPhee of the American Museum of Natural History, where it was exhibited in 2008.The study was conducted along with Universities of Exeter, Bristol and Winchester in the United Kingdom and Kokshetau University in Kazakhstan.The Horse will be displayed through May 24, when it will travel to museums in Ottawa, Canada; Chicago and San Diego.
