Archaeological findings from medieval Hungary provide new insights into the consumption of horsemeat, undermining longstanding beliefs about religious dietary restrictions associated with the rise of Christianity. A detailed examination of horse bones from 198 settlements indicates that hippophagy persisted for over 200 years after the adoption of Christianity, suggesting that practical factors played a larger role in dietary changes than spiritual ones. The research, published in the journal Antiquity, reveals that, despite commonly held assumptions linking the end of horsemeat consumption to Christian influence, many Hungarian communities continued to incorporate it into their diets. Researchers Professor László Bartosiewicz and Dr. Erika Gál analyzed refuse contexts and found that in certain rural areas, horse bones made up a significant portion of livestock remains, supporting the idea that pre-Christian customs endured even with the introduction of Christianity.

The decline in horsemeat consumption was notably linked to the Mongol invasion of 1241-42, which devastated Hungary’s population and transformed food availability. As horses became valued military assets rather than everyday livestock, they became less accessible for consumption. The population shift due to repopulation by Western European settlers introduced new dietary preferences, further contributing to the decline of hippophagy. These findings challenge historical narratives shaped largely by biased medieval Christian authors, who often depicted horsemeat consumption as a mark of barbarism associated with pagan cultures.

This study emphasizes the vital role of archaeological evidence in providing a more nuanced understanding of dietary practices in medieval Europe. It highlights that cultural shifts were influenced by a blend of political, economic, and demographic changes rather than merely religious mandates, revealing a more complex society than traditional accounts suggest.