Kungas and The Potential Origin of the not-so-Humble Mule

Donkeys in Switzerland. The drooping ear happened when they realized we did not have any donkey treats.

Ancient Mesopotamia had a thriving civilization, with all kinds of technology. One thing they did not have was…horses.

Horses had already been domesticated, but the trade in them had not reached that region. So, what they had instead was, of course, donkeys. Donkeys are useful work beasts, but the donkeys they had were small…the giant donkeys bred in Spain and culminating in the world’s largest donkey breed, the Mammoth Jack, did not yet exist.

Then 5,000 years ago, something happened. That something was the sudden appearance of the kunga.

What Was a Kunga?

The kungas depicted were clearly equids, but they were larger than donkeys. According to the historical record, a kunga averaged about six times the cost of a donkey. Large male kungas were used to pull war wagons. Smaller males and females were heavy duty workbeasts, often plowing fields.

It was an equid, but what was it? Where did the kunga come from? How did it appear so suddenly.

Thankfully, archeology now has an answer. DNA analysis was performed on kunga skeletons that had been buried at a royal burial site.

And the answer was not hugely surprising, but was at the same time.