Strangely modified sheep horns from 3700 BCE discovered by archeologists in Egypt’s Hierakonpolis

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Reported by Archaeology News:

Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of an ancient Egyptian practice involving the modification of sheep horns at the mortuary complex of Hierakonpolis in Upper Egypt, dating back to approximately 3700 BCE.

This discovery represents the oldest known case of intentional horn modification in livestock, according to a study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science. The find comprises six large, castrated male sheep whose skulls displayed deformed horn structures. Unlike naturally grown lateral horns, these sheep had horns that were directed upwards, with some completely removed. The deformations are believed to have been achieved by fracturing and tying the horn bases, an approach that directed the horns to grow in parallel, upright positions.

In describing the findings, Professor Wim Van Neer of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences explained that these modifications were deliberate: “The sheep were deliberately made ‘special’ by castration. In addition, their horns were directed upward, and in one case, the horns were removed.” The discovery of this practice at Hierakonpolis provides the earliest physical evidence of horn modification applied to sheep, a tradition later observed with cattle across various African cultures, including the pastoralist communities of Nubia in the third millennium BCE.

The modification of livestock horns has long been practiced globally to reduce the risk of injury to handlers and animals. Archaeologists found signs of pathological changes on the horn cores of the Hierakonpolis sheep, suggesting a structured and deliberate technique to alter the horns’ growth patterns. Researchers propose that these sheep might have been raised for ceremonial or ritualistic purposes, given that they were discovered in the elite cemetery of the ancient mortuary complex. Further analysis revealed constrictions and fractures on the horn cores and deformities in the skulls, which indicate intentional physical manipulation.

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