In a remote cave sanctuary in the Spanish highlands, a team from the University of Madrid has recovered three exceptionally preserved masks crafted from cork and leather, reinforced with intricate silver threading. These artifacts are believed to represent the Boar-Spirit, a central figure in a long-lost transition festival marking the shift from the harsh winter hunting season to the spring planting cycle. This find provides a rare look into the non-Roman ritual life of the Celtiberian tribes.
The masks were found alongside ritual daggers and charred remains of acorn cakes, indicating a complex ceremonial meal. The use of silver, a precious commodity in the region, highlights the high status of the festival participants and the spiritual significance of the "boar's awakening" in ensuring the protection of the tribe’s future crops.