Archaeological research uncovers world’s oldest evidence of livestock horn manipulation

Archaeologists Dr. Wim van Niel, Dr. Bea de Coupert and Dr. Renée Freedman published a study in the Journal of Archaeological Science on the earliest evidence of modification of livestock horns.

Researchers have discovered the earliest physical evidence of modified horns in livestock, and the first evidence in sheep. Six sheep discovered at an elite burial complex at Hierakonpolis in Upper Egypt (c. 3700 BC) show signs of deformity, providing new evidence for the history of horn modification in Africa, which was largely restricted to cattle. added.

“This is the earliest physical evidence of horn modification in livestock. This practice also existed in cattle, but its early days are attested to only by rock art depictions,” said Fan. Dr. Neil says:

Sheep were first introduced into Egypt from the Levant around the 6th millennium BC, and by the 5th millennium BC they had become one of Egypt’s most important livestock resources. They were depicted on vases, carved reliefs, and ceremonial vessels. From these depictions, it is known that the earliest Egyptian sheep were of the corkscrew-horned variety.

These corkscrew-horned sheep were later adopted into hieroglyphics and became part of religious iconography in the form of the corkscrew-horned ram deity. However, by the Middle Kingdom, Ammon sheep began to appear in Egypt. These sheep were distinguished by crescent-shaped, backward-pointing horns. Eventually, these Ammon sheep were completely replaced by the corkscrew-horned variant.

Elite burial complexes have been unearthed at the ruins of Hierakonpolis, about 100 km from modern-day Luxor. Here, the city’s elite were buried in elaborate tombs along with wild and sometimes exotic animals such as cows, goats, crocodiles, ostriches, leopards, baboons, ocelots, elephants, hartebeests, hippos, and aurochs.

Among the animals buried with them were sheep. Specifically, in graves 54, 61, and 79, researchers found six human skulls with modified horns. These included corners that were completely removed or those that were pointed backwards or parallel and upward to some extent.

Further examination of the remains revealed that some of these sheep had been castrated and were larger than non-castrated sheep, as the bones were elongated and the presence of unfused bones indicated that some of these sheep had been castrated.

The horn deformity was determined to be the result of a fracture, a process in which the skull at the base of the horn core is fractured, repositioned, and tied together for several weeks until the fracture heals.

This was determined based on the depression seen at the base of the horn core and the unusually thin bone in this area (usually the result of a fracture), as well as the constriction seen on the sides of the horn core. The corners are tied to secure them.

Various African agropastoral groups, including Kenya’s Pokot, still use the same method of modifying horns. Usually they do this when the goat is about a year old.

When asked why the Hierakonpolis elite wanted to modify their sheep’s horns, Dr. van Niel explained: You can modify not only exotic animals (baboons, elephants, hippos, crocodiles, aurochs…), but also domestic animals.

“Because the sheep had been castrated, they were larger than the average sheep raised for consumption. Additionally, they changed their shape by pushing their horns upwards or by removing their horns. , were just two different ways to make an “ordinary” animal “special.” ”

Altering the sheep’s horns not only made them look aesthetically different, but perhaps also symbolized the elite’s ability to control and manipulate nature itself. This concept was very important in predynastic Egypt and is reflected in the procurement and burial of dangerous wild animals such as elephants and baboons.

Researchers also believe that the modified sheep is meant to evoke the addax (Addax nasomaculatus), with its upright spiral horns, which is often thought to symbolize the rebirth of life and order from chaos. This suggests that there is a possibility that

What is certain is that these sheep are special and, as their castration and age (6-8 years old) indicate, are unlikely to have been raised for meat, but for consumption. This would have been unusual since most farmed sheep are slaughtered by livestock. 3 years old.

The researchers plan to continue their excavations at Hierakonpolis, and Dr van Niel said: “We will keep an eye out for other examples of antler modification at the Hierakonpolis site. I would like to know if this was also done to cows.” And a goat. ”

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