Antler Headdresses. Implications from a many-faceted study of an earliest Mesolithic phenomenon Hirschgeweihkappen. Eine vielschichtige Studie eines Phänomens des ältesten Mesolithikums und ihre Auswirkungen

Abstract

So-called ‘antler headdresses’ - red deer (Cervus elaphus) skulls with antlers specifically modified by humans - were identified early as a typical phenomenon of Early Mesolithic sites in the northern European Lowlands. In addition to clearly processed pieces with artificial perforations, longitudinally split antlers and heavy processing of their surfaces, there are also pieces that have only one type of these modifications and others in which human processing is hardly demonstrable.
Although comprehensive studies of these ‘headdresses’ have not until now been carried out, the various artefacts are often discussed functionally and interpreted prematurely. In recent years, the discovery of new finds at several sites has again intensified discussion of the typology, function and meaning of these artefacts. To provide a solid base for future discourses, we here present a synthetic study of the available material.
A comparative analysis of the morphometric, zooarchaeological and technological features of individual specimens shows that certain characteristics often appear in combination. We propose to reserve the term deer antler ‘headdress’ to a subcategory of specimens which we suggest might indeed have best functioned as headgear. Since several of the deer skull artefacts do not show all the human modifications included in our definition, we adopt a polythetic classification of the term ‘headdress’.
Under this definition we identify a total of seven ‘headdresses’ among those frontlets which could be examined, and note further probable specimens among published material unseen by us.
In contrast to the conclusions of some other studies, new direct radiometric dates for the antler headdresses from Berlin-Biesdorf and Hohen Viecheln, together with recent chronological data for Star Carr and Bedburg-Königshoven suggest to us that ‘antler headdresses’ represent a phenomenon specific for the earliest Mesolithic of the North European Lowlands.
Moreover, the presence of at least two or more of these artefacts at the better investigated sites suggests an important role for them in the rarely discernible social rituals of earliest Mesolithic hunter-gatherers, potentially as an aid to consolidating group/territorial identity.

• Bedburg-Königshoven
• Lower Rhine Embayment
• Mesolithic Europe
• ams-dates
• bone and antler artefacts
• early mesolithic
• initial mesolithic

Resources

• Quartaer_2020_67_early view_Wild_et_al.pdf

Bibliography

Wild, M., Gehlen, B., Street, M. (2021): Antler Headdresses. Implications from a many-faceted study of an earliest Mesolithic phenomenon Hirschgeweihkappen. Eine vielschichtige Studie eines Phänomens des ältesten Mesolithikums und ihre Auswirkungen. Dr. Faustus – In: Quartär, Vol. 67 / 2020, p: 1-19