Horse‐riding as a habitual activity among the early medieval Avar population of the cemetery of Csokorgasse (Vienna): Sex and chronological differences

Abstract Little is known about sex and gender differences in the daily life activities of early medieval Avar populations. Of particular interest habitual horse‐riding, which assumed to be typical for these Importantly, fundamental changes “Avar lifestyle” occurred over time this may have led less horse‐riding. This study identifies possible chronological prevalence metric nonmetric traits indicating horse‐riding within adult population cemetery Wien11‐Csokorgasse Austria. A total 149 skeletons from (ca. 625–800 AD) were analyzed. Poirier's facets, plaque, cribriform femur‐neck junction documented, index ovalization (IOA) acetabulum was calculated. Males surpassed females significantly facets right ( p = 0.011) left femur 0.048) showed higher IOAs 0.019) 0.037) acetabulum. Among males, no appearance IOA detected. In contrast, a during earliest phases burial ground (Early period 2/Middle 1; 625–675 AD), decline Horse‐riding male activity. Our results, however, suggest that segment women practiced habitually. From middle phase studied cemetery, its declined females, pointing female activities.