The blowing horn or winding horn is a sound device that is
usually made of or shaped like an animal horn, arranged to blow from a hole in
the pointed end of it. This rudimentary device had a variety of functions in
many cultures, in most cases reducing its scope to exhibiting, celebratory or
group identification purposes (signal instrument). On the other hand, it has
kept its function and profile in many cattle raising, agricultural and
hunter-gatherer societies.
The oldest varieties were made of wood and animal horns. The
earliest findings in Europe are Bronze Age metal horns, the strength of which
resulted in its better endurance of the rigours of time. As a result, previous
traces of other materials have vanished, so the oldest surviving animal horn
dates back to the Late Iron Age in Visnum, Sweden. As big horned animals are
rarely found in Scandinavia, blowing horns are often made from wood, wound
birch bark or bout, called a "lur".
Many horns have been used as sounding cries by ancient
societies. A modern-day descendant of the horn, the bugle, is used to call out
orders in military camps. The hunting horn was used to communicate on a hunt
and is still used today in some places.
In Biscay, territory of the Basque Country, following an old
tradition, a practice is being restored to blow the horn from five mountains in
the province once a year. These mountains, namely Gorbea (4,859 ft.), Sollube
(2,251 ft), Oiz (3,376 ft.), Ganekogorta (3,274 ft) and Kolitza (2,884 ft) are
dubbed the montes bocineros, meaning the 'hornblower mounts'. According to
historic evidence, up to the late 16th century the Biscayne were summoned to
the General Council of the Domain of Biscay to be held in the town of Gernika by
playing horns from the summits.
