Morrione, Campochiaro, Molise, t. 3 cavaliere

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Reconstructed skull from a VII CE necropolis in Molise, Italy showcases an individual buried with their horse, along with horse fittings and personal items that include stirrups and weapons, prompting excavators to refer to them as one of the "knights" of Campochiaro. The presence of stirrups in this context is unprecedented for its time period, marking one of the first examples of these objects preserved in the archaeological record in Western Europe. Material culture suggests strong connections with the Roman/Byzantine world, Longobard Germanic culture, and Central Asian steppe influences, as evidenced by the presence of stirrups and horse burial. This individual also exhibits a rare trait: persistent sutures dividing the frontal bone into two halves, known as metopism, which is typically obliterated within the first two years after birth.