Evidence of horsemanship in two Szekler noblemen from the Baroque period

Abstract The Szeklers are a biologically and archaeologically understudied Hungarian cultural group who have occupied the Carpathian Basin since at least A.D. 1000. For most of their history, they were an autonomous group given special nontaxed status in exchange for their service to the Kingdom of Hungary as cavalrymen and defenders of the eastern front. Excavation of a church in Harghita County, Romania, has uncovered the remains of two adult males in a brick‐lined crypt beneath the pulpit of the church. The partial name ‘FERE’ was preserved in nails on the coffin lid of one of the interments. The Ferenczy family was the noble family for the area. Macroscopic observation of the skeletal remains showed several non‐normal skeletal characteristics. As a suite of traits, the characteristics suggest long‐term and frequent horseback riding per the clinical and archaeological literature. Skeletal indicators of horsemanship combined with the known responsibilities of Szekler noblemen support an interpretation of horse riding behaviour. This case study is important because it contributes to the growing understanding about skeletal modifications related to horseback riding and adds to the limited biological and archaeological literature regarding Szekler individuals.