The skeleton of a horse has been discovered complete with its harness and saddle at an ancient villa near Pompeii.

Archaeologists discovered the remains in what they’ve dubbed a find of ‘rare importance’.

It is believed the building would have been a stable in a suburb of the famous city, and belonged to a high-ranking military officer during ancient Roman times.

The remains have been found alongside other horse skeletons, it’s reported.

Massimo Osanna, head of Pompeii archaeological park, said the horse had come to “fierce and terrible end” but was nevertheless well-preserved.

He added the animal may have been suffocated by ashes or by the boiling vapours from Mount Vesuvius’s ash cloud.

The BBC says fragments of wooden and bronze trimmings were discovered in the excavation.

The estate was originally dug up early in the 20th Century but much of it was reburied and has since been targeted by looters.

Mount Vesuvius peppered Pompeii and nearby towns under tonnes of millions of volcanic debris in AD79.

Horses were used by the residents in desperate attempts to flee.

But thousands of people were killed during the violent volcano eruption.