Excavations in the Harz Mountains have revealed a unique collection of twenty red deer antlers that were intentionally modified to be worn as headdresses. Found within a circular timber structure, these "antler crowns" date back to the late Neolithic period and provide evidence for a prehistoric "Deer-Spirit" festival held during the winter solstice.
The antlers show evidence of being attached to leather caps and were found surrounded by charred hazelnut shells and bones from a communal feast. Researchers believe participants performed theriomorphic dances—imitating the movements of deer—to ensure the return of the sun and the fertility of the forest. This find represents some of the earliest evidence of masked performance traditions in Central Europe.