DNA Reveals Leopard Spotted Horses
What exactly are those spots on the horse in this cave painting? I know that in class I have learned one possible explanation of these spots found in cave paintings, but here is another.
Researchers at the University of York along with a team of fellow scientists from all over the world have run cutting edge DNA analysis on bone specimens from horses dating back as far as 35,000 years ago. They found that four of the samples originating in Europe carried the gene associated with modern leopard spotting, strongly suggesting these markings existed back then and cave painters were accurately capturing the horses they saw.Here is the link for the full article: Gizmodo
11 comments:
In class the discussion was more concerned with the geometric shapes and patterns not associated with the representational animal images.
Wouldnt this be another opinion on why they started to paint spots? After seeing spots on animals?
Very interesting...I always wondered if those spotted horses existed.
Possibly, but it would not explain any of the other geometric patterns or the existence of the dot pattern on rock art in other parts of the world associated with other animals where this horse did not exist.
Yeah, that is a really valid point.
I find it so interesting how scientist can use DNA to figure out 35,000 year old horse bone were remains from a spotted horse
Amazing that they could match the dna genes with the spots on these horses. There are a few outside of the horse as well.
And now that I read about the geometric shapes and patterns ..that sounds very interesting. Did those shapes mean anything?
Well, at least we know that spotted horses existed.
Mary Janini art 3
This was one of the first things we learned in class. It still amazes me that humans were capable of making such beautiful images with so little resources. Cave paintings are my favorite!
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