The oldest known horseback riding saddle was found in a grave in China
The placement of the more than 2,400-year-old gear suggests its owner was on a final ride
![An ancient saddle against a white backdrop with a colorful bar for scale](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/072423_BB_exhumed-saddle_feat.jpg?fit=1030%2C580&ssl=1)
Scientists have identified the oldest directly dated saddle, shown here from the top, at an ancient cemetery in western China. Radiocarbon measurements indicate that the find, which displays sophisticated stitching techniques, dates from 727 B.C. to 396 B.C.
P. Wertmann et al/Archaeological Research in Asia, 2023