Horses and their riders. A study on the horse-riding figures in Valcamonica rock art

This thesis and the work it produced aimed to contribute to the existing scholarship of Valcamonica. Although not revolutionary, the goal was to provide some perspective on the state of Valcamonica research while offering documentation and insights into one of the central motifs of the Valley. The study aimed to contribute to the broader field of human-animal research, seeking to understand the past with a more equitable perspective on all members of society. At its heart, this thesis aimed to deepen our understanding of the roles and relationships horses had with the humans of Valcamonica. Since their domestication some six thousand years ago, the relationship horses had with humans has evolved from merely being prey or another species with whom humans cohabitated to horses becoming fully integrated and valued members of human societies. In the words of author Catherine Johns, “People love horses”, and for the fact that they have impacted the trajectory of human history unimaginably, “they have always occupied a special place in human consciousness.” The horse-riding engravings of Valcamonica are only one example from the vast prehistory of the world that illustrates the longstanding and important ties between these two species. While many species are often viewed from a utilitarian perspective, it is undeniable that horses had crucial social roles and significance, without which society would be profoundly different. Although recognising this relationship in Valcamonica is not the most straightforward, what pieces we can gather demonstrate this reality.