Roman-Era Horse Cemetery Discovered in Stuttgart!
Archaeologists in Stuttgart have made an extraordinary find—over 100 horses dating back to the Roman Empire, buried in what could be one of the largest known Roman horse cemeteries in southern Germany. The discovery, made during a construction project in Bad Cannstatt (a historic district of Stuttgart), sheds new light on the Roman cavalry and the bonds between soldiers and their steeds.
Photo Credit: State Office for Monument Preservation in the Stuttgart Regional Council / ArchaeoBW
A Roman Horse Cemetery Hidden Beneath Modern Stuttgart
The excavation began in July 2024, prompted by a new housing development planned by the Stuttgart Housing and Urban Development Company (SWSG). Working between Düsseldorfer Straße and Bottroper Straße, the archaeological team from ArchaeoBW, under the guidance of the State Office for Monument Preservation (LAD), unearthed more than 100 horse skeletons. These remains date back to the second century CE—a time when this area served as a major Roman military hub.
According to LAD’s lead archaeologist, Sarah Roth, the horses likely belonged to a Roman cavalry unit known as an “Ala,” stationed nearby in Hallschlag between 100 and 150 CE. “This unit would have had around 500 riders and likely more than 700 horses, as losses needed constant replacement,” Roth explained.
Photo Credit: State Office for Monument Preservation in the Stuttgart Regional Council / ArchaeoBW
Burials Reflect Military Life—and Loss
The cemetery site is located around 400 metres from an ancient cavalry fort and 200 metres from the nearest Roman civilian settlement. The horses were laid to rest in shallow pits, often on their sides with legs either bent or stretched out. Radiocarbon dating shows the animals were buried gradually, over a period of time, rather than in the aftermath of a single tragic event.
“The horses didn’t die all at once—this wasn’t due to a battle or outbreak,” Roth said in an LAD press release. “Instead, they likely died from illness, injuries, or simply reached the end of their usefulness to the military.”
Most of the burials appear to have been practical rather than ceremonial—suggesting a matter-of-fact approach to disposing of animals in a military setting. But one grave stood out.
A Rare and Touching Burial
Among the many plain burials, one horse was found with two pottery jugs and a small oil lamp, carefully placed in the crook of its leg—objects more commonly found in human graves. This suggests a deeper emotional bond between the soldier and the horse.
“In this case, it’s clear the horse meant more than just transport or battle utility. The owner likely saw it as a companion,” Roth noted. “Even after nearly 2,000 years, the grief behind this burial is still tangible.”
Photo Credit: State Office for Monument Preservation in the Stuttgart Regional Council / ArchaeoBW
A Human Mystery Among the Horses
Adding a darker twist, archaeologists also discovered a human skeleton—an adult male, buried face down, without any grave goods. Found far from the usual human cemetery and among the horse remains, he’s thought to have been a social outcast or someone denied a proper burial by Roman standards.
Rewriting the History of the Site
Although horse remains were first discovered in the area back in the 1920s—leading to it being nicknamed a Schindanger(an old German term for an animal disposal ground)—this latest discovery reveals a far more nuanced story. It speaks not only of Roman military operations but also of animal care, logistics, and the deep connections between people and the animals that served them.
Now that the excavation work has wrapped up, scientists are turning their attention to archaeozoological analysis. By studying the horses’ age, size, health, and origins, researchers hope to learn more about how they were bred, fed, and used. One key question: were these horses imported, or bred locally? It’s especially fitting, given that Stuttgart’s name comes from the Old High German stuotgarden, meaning “mare’s garden.”