A major find in a peat bog in Aberdeenshire has revealed two silver-etched boar-tusk horns dating to the late Iron Age. Local experts believe these horns were used during the ‘Festival of the White-Frost Moon’, a Pictish celebration held at the first appearance of ground frost to mark the transition from the hunting season to winter survival.
The silver etchings depict intricate moon phases and hunting scenes, indicating the horns were likely blown to signal the start of communal feasts. This find is the first of its kind in Scotland to link faunal remains with specific lunar-based festival calendars, offering a new perspective on the ritual lives of the Picts.