Excavations at a Pictish-era ritual site in the Cairngorms have uncovered several silver-tipped red deer antler crowns. These rare headpieces were found alongside ceremonial drinking horns and charred mountain ash branches, which were traditionally associated with protection against winter spirits. The silver caps on the antlers appear to have been added during the Iron Age, representing a significant investment of wealth for seasonal celebrations.
The location of the find, a high-altitude natural amphitheater, suggests it was used for 'Frost-Departure' festivals, where communities gathered to celebrate the end of the harsh winter and the return of grazing herds. This discovery provides a vital link between prehistoric animal-mimicry rituals and the later folk traditions of the Scottish Highlands, emphasizing the continuity of seasonal heritage.