Archaeologists unearth ancient racehorse in Pompeii

A dig at the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Pompeii has unearthed a stable containing the remains of a racehorse.

An expert works on the whole cast of a parade horse found during excavations at Pompeii. Source: AAP

An excavation in Pompeii has unearthed a stable containing the remains of an ancient racehorse.

Pompeii officials displayed a cast of the horse, which appeared to have been lying on its left flank when it died.

Naples daily Il Mattino quoted archaeologist Greta Stefani as saying the shape of the horse was represented by a vacuum, created by the decay of organic material.

Pompeii director Massimo Osanna said the animal was a thoroughbred likely to have been used for races, not farm work.

Parts of the sprawling city destroyed by Mount Vesuvius' eruption in the year 79AD await excavation.

The stable belonged to a villa on Pompeii's northern outskirts. The villa's excavation also unearthed kitchen utensils and part of a wooden bed.

The find was discovered in a large villa that stood just outside the walls of Pompeii. Source: AAP