The earliest riders

It’s difficult to imagine what human history would have been like without horses, and almost as difficult to pinpoint when, where and how this momentous advance took place. Pittsburgh archaeologist Sandra Olsen is one of the leading researchers examining the earliest domestication of the horse; this article explores whether people in Botai near the capital of Kazakhstan were the first to tame and ride horses 5600 years ago. Other researchers have found evidence of bit wear on horses’ teeth found near Botai, dating back to 3500 BC.