The carnyx (plural: carnyces) is a wind instrument that was widely used by Celtic people during the Iron Age, from about 200 BC to about 200 AD. It is a type of trumpet made of bronze and shaped like a long S. When held, the straight middle part was vertical, while the short end with the mouthpiece and the wide bell pointed in opposite horizontal directions. The bell was shaped like the head of an open-mouthed boar or another animal.

The Celts used the carnyx in battles, likely to encourage soldiers to fight and to scare enemies, as described by the writer Polybius. Its tall design allowed the sound to be heard clearly above the heads of people during battles or ceremonies.

Etymology

The word "carnyx" comes from the Gaulish root "carn-" or "cern-," which means "antler" or "horn." This same root is also found in the name of the god Cernunnos. The word "carnyx" is related to the Welsh words "corn" and "carn," which share a similar origin.

Archaeology

In Iron Age Britain, animals were used to show strength and bravery. Examples include a boar on the Witham Shield, the snouted Deskford carnyx in Scotland, and a pair of dragons on a sword scabbard from the River Thames.

Evidence suggests that a chieftain, possibly a Gaulish king named Bituitos, held the carnyx.

In 2004, archaeologists found a first-century-BC Gallic pit at Tintignac in Corrèze, France (45°20′00″N 1°45′30″E / 45.3333°N 1.7582°E / 45.3333; 1.7582). The site had over 500 pieces of metal items, including seven carnyces, one of which was nearly complete. Before this discovery, only five carnyces had been found in modern-day Scotland, France, Germany, Romania, and Switzerland. Four of the carnyces had boar heads, and the fifth looked like a serpent-like monster. These items were likely part of a ritual deposit made shortly after the Roman conquest of Gaul. The Tintignac finds helped identify older fragments found in northern Italy as parts of a carnyx.

The first carnyx found in Britain was dredged from the River Witham at Tattershall Ferry (53°05′23″N 0°12′53″W / 53.08981°N 0.21462°W / 53.08981; -0.21462), Lincolnshire, in 1768. It was likely a votive offering placed in the river during the Iron Age. Made from hammered bronze sheets fastened with tin solder, it was destroyed during an attempt to study its metal composition.

The next carnyx found in Britain was the Deskford Carnyx, discovered at Leitchestown (57°39′31″N 2°48′15″W / 57.6585°N 2.8041°W / 57.6585; -2.8041), Deskford, Banffshire, Scotland, in 1816. It was likely placed as a ritual offering. Only the boar’s-head bell remains. It was donated to Banff Museum and is now on loan to the Museum of Scotland. The location and age of the Deskford Carnyx suggest it may have had a ceremonial use, not only in warfare. Before 2004, this was the best surviving example and was often used in earlier reconstructions.

The Deskford find was made mostly of brass, a metal used mainly by the Romans after conquering Southern Britannia. Like many other Celtic brass items in Britain, the carnyx may have been made from recycled metal. Based on metal analysis, the Museum of Scotland estimates it was made between 80 and 250 CE. It was locally produced and is described as a "specifically Scottish variant," distinct from other carnyces. Its decoration matches metalwork styles in northeast Scotland, where bronze-working was common.

In 2025, a collection of Iron Age military items was found in west Norfolk, within the former territory of the Iceni tribe. The items were likely buried in the first century AD. They included a bronze carnyx, a bronze war standard shaped like a boar’s head, and five shield bosses. The carnyx needs extensive conservation but is very complete. A conserv

Literature

The name is known from written records. Carnyces are mentioned in accounts of the Celtic attack on Delphi in 279 BC, as well as in descriptions of Julius Caesar's campaign in Gaul and the Claudian invasion of Britannia in 43 CE, which was led by Aulus Plautius. Around 60–30 BC, Diodorus Siculus wrote:

Objects from Tintignac

Objects from Tintignac were shown in the 2012 exhibition "Les Gaulois, une expo renversante" ("The Gauls, a stunning exhibition").

• The carnyx of Tintignac, found in Corrèze, France
• A carnyx found at Tintignac
• A carnyx found at Tintignac
• A bird-shaped helmet, found at Tintignac

• The Leichestown Deskford carnyx and its reconstruction, displayed at the Museum of Scotland
• A piece from a carnyx, found in Switzerland

Modern reconstructions

The reconstruction of the Deskford Carnyx was started by Dr. John Purser in 1991. This project was funded by both the Glenfiddich Living Scotland award and the National Museums of Scotland. Dr. Purser, a musicologist, worked with a team that included Fraser Hunter, an archaeologist; John Creed, a silversmith; and John Kenny, a trombonist. After being silent for 2,000 years, the reconstructed Deskford Carnyx was displayed at the National Museum of Scotland in April 1993.

In 1993, John Kenny became the first person to play the carnyx in 2,000 years. Since then, he has given lectures and performed on the instrument around the world, including in concert halls, on radio, television, and film. Many musical compositions have been written for the carnyx, and it appears on seven CDs. On 15 March 2003, Kenny played the carnyx alone for an audience of 65,000 people at the Stade de France in Paris.

On 15 June 2017, a special musical piece called "The Music of the Forest" was first performed at Slaidburn Village Hall. This work, commissioned by composer Christopher Gibbs from Lakeland, included a reconstructed carnyx. The piece, which described the landscape and history of the Forest of Bowland, was performed by the Renaissance Singers of Blackburn Cathedral, directed by Samuel Hudson. John Kenny played the carnyx during this performance.

In 2024, the Football Association of Wales asked a Belgian metalsmith to create a reconstructed carnyx for use in pre-match performances. This instrument was first played before a UEFA Nations League game on 19 November 2024, during a match between Wales and Iceland. The carnyx was played by a musician from the Barry Horns fans' brass band.

Gallery of reconstructions and reenactors

• A display at a French museum
• The Deskford recreation at the Museum of Scotland
• Recreated models in Germany
• A recreation in France

In popular culture

The carnyx is shown in the opening battle scene of the 2000 movie Gladiator. It is used as a musical instrument in the soundtrack of the 2024 movie Gladiator II. The carnyx appears in several battle scenes in the French movie Druids (2001). It is seen near the beginning of the 2012 Pixar movie Brave. The carnyx is included in the Gallic soundtrack of the video game Civilization VI. The character Cacofonix from the Asterix series is often shown carrying or sometimes playing a carnyx.