# Historical dataset of osteological and archaeological records for equines on Crete

## TL;DR

This paper presents a historical dataset of equine records in Crete from the Neolithic to 1895, combining archaeological, osteological, and written evidence.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a comprehensive dataset for studying the historical presence and development of equines in Crete.

## Key findings

- The dataset includes archaeological and osteological evidence of equines in Crete from the Neolithic to 1895.
- It provides information on the type, location, and chronology of equine remains and records.
- The dataset supports research on the socioeconomic role and evolution of the Cretan horse breed.

## Abstract

We gathered evidence on the occurrence of equines in the island of Crete from the Neolithic until 1895. We relied on published archaeological and osteological records plus on historical written documents. Our dataset includes a description of the type of evidence, where this was located, and the associated absolute and relative chronologies. The collected data can be used to investigate the past spread of equids in Crete (Equus asinus and Equus caballus), their socioeconomic status, and the development of the local Cretan breed. The dataset is made available via the Abraxas data community within the Pandora data platform. This community is devoted to the historical study of horses. The dataset presented here is a component of a project tracing the history of the Cretan horse until present day.