The remains of a horse still wearing its harness have been discovered at an ancient villa near Pompeii.
Archaeologists unearthed the animal and saddle in what would have been a stable in a suburb of the famous city.
Pompeii archaeological park head Massimo Osanna told Italian news agency ANSA that the villa belonged to a high-ranking military officer, perhaps a general, during ancient Roman times.
Mr Osanna was quoted on Sunday as saying the remains of two or three other horses were also discovered.
The villa's terraces had views of the Bay of Naples and Capri, Italy.
The area was previously excavated, during the early 1900s, but later re-buried.
It is thought that suffocating volcanic ash or boiling vapors killed the horses, and Mr Osanna hopes the villa eventually will be open for public visits.
Pompeii was buried in ashes in AD79 after Mount Vesuvius erupted.
