A study recently published in the Journal of Archaeological Science by archaeologists Dr. Wim van Neer, Dr. Bea De Cupere, and Dr. Renée Friedman has revealed groundbreaking evidence of the earliest known livestock horn modification. This remarkable discovery was made at the elite burial complex in Hierakonpolis, Upper Egypt, dating back to approximately 3700 BC. Six sheep skulls uncovered in the tombs show clear signs of modified horns, making this the first physical evidence of horn modification in sheep and the oldest known example of such practices in any livestock. These findings expand the known history of horn modification in Africa, a practice previously thought to be limited to cattle.
Dr. van Neer, one of the leading researchers on this study, emphasizes that while similar practices of horn modification have been documented in cattle—primarily through depictions in rock art—this new discovery provides the first concrete archaeological evidence of such modification in sheep. He noted, “This is the earliest physical evidence for horn modification in livestock, and while the practice also existed in cattle, for that early period, it was only attested by depictions in rock art.”
The domestication and significance of sheep in Egypt can be traced back to the 6th millennium BC when they were introduced from the Levant. By the 5th millennium BC, sheep had become one of Egypt’s primary livestock resources, and their presence was heavily represented in ancient Egyptian art. In many early depictions, sheep were shown with corkscrew-shaped horns, a distinctive characteristic of this early breed. These corkscrew-horned sheep were highly valued in Egyptian society, and their distinctive horns made them prominent in religious and cultural symbolism. Over time, these sheep were incorporated into Egyptian iconography, including the depictions of ram deities with spiral horns. By the Middle Kingdom, however, the corkscrew-horned sheep had been replaced by the “ammon” sheep, a breed with crescent-shaped, backward-pointing horns.
Hierakonpolis, a key archaeological site about 100 kilometers south of modern Luxor, has long been known for its importance in the early history of Egypt. The site contains an elite burial complex where members of the city’s upper class were interred in richly adorned tombs, often with a variety of animals, including wild and exotic species. Among these animals were sheep, and it was in tombs 54, 61, and 79 that the researchers uncovered the remains of six sheep with modified horns. These sheep, whose skulls had been altered, provide a unique insight into the practices of Egypt’s elite.
The modifications in the sheep’s horns varied, with some horns entirely removed, while others were manipulated to point backward or even to curve upward and outward. Further examination revealed that these sheep had also been castrated, as indicated by the larger size of their bones compared to uncastrated sheep. Castration typically results in the development of larger, more robust animals, and the presence of unfused bones in the skeletons of these sheep confirmed that they were significantly larger than typical sheep bred for consumption.
The process of horn modification itself appears to have been an intentional act of fracturing, where the horn base was broken, repositioned, and then bound together until the bone healed. Evidence of this process is seen in the depressions at the base of the horn cores, as well as the unusual thinness of the bone in this area, which is characteristic of fractures. Additionally, the constrictions around the horn cores indicate that they were bound in place, likely with some form of binding material. This method of horn modification is still practiced today by various African agro-pastoralist groups, such as the Pokot people of Kenya, who use a similar technique to modify the horns of their goats around the age of one year.
The researchers suggest that the reason for the horn modification of these sheep in the elite burial complex was not simply practical but deeply symbolic. Dr. van Neer explains that the rulers interred in the Hierakonpolis tombs were likely using the practice of horn modification to assert their power and control over nature. By displaying exotic animals such as crocodiles, baboons, leopards, and even elephants in their tombs, the elite were sending a clear message about their dominance over the natural world. Modifying the horns of sheep in such a dramatic manner would have been a way of making these “ordinary” animals seem extraordinary, further highlighting the wealth, power, and influence of the ruling class.
The act of modifying the sheep’s horns could also have been intended to make a symbolic statement. It is possible that the modified sheep were meant to evoke the addax, an antelope species known for its distinctive spiral horns, which are often associated with the renewal of life and order over chaos. In the context of ancient Egyptian society, these themes of renewal, life, and cosmic order were deeply important, and the modified sheep may have been intended to represent these ideas.
The fact that these sheep were castrated and much older than typical consumption sheep—ranging in age from 6 to 8 years old—further suggests that they were not intended for slaughter. Sheep bred for food were generally slaughtered at a younger age, typically around 3 years old. The presence of these older sheep, along with their horn modifications, suggests that they had a ceremonial or symbolic role in the elite burials, rather than being kept for practical purposes like meat production.
The significance of these discoveries goes beyond just the immediate archaeological context. The practice of horn modification in sheep sheds light on the early cultural and ritual practices of Egypt’s elite, revealing how they used both natural and domesticated resources to demonstrate their status. The modifications could have been a way to represent not only power over nature but also a deeper spiritual or religious connection, as these modified sheep may have been intended to symbolize cosmic order and divine favor.
As Dr. van Neer notes, the research team plans to continue their excavations at Hierakonpolis in order to explore the broader implications of horn modification across other domesticated animals. The team is particularly interested in determining whether similar modifications were made to cattle or goats, which could offer further insights into the practices of Egypt’s ancient elite. The team’s ongoing work at the site is expected to provide more answers about the social, cultural, and ritual significance of livestock in early Egyptian society.
More information: Wim Van Neer et al, The earliest evidence for deformation of livestock horns: The case of Predynastic sheep from Hierakonpolis, Egypt, Journal of Archaeological Science (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2024.106104