An extraordinary discovery in a Scythian kurgan in the Altai Mountains has brought to light a pair of ritual fans crafted from eagle feathers and embossed gold leaf. The fans were found positioned near the hands of a high-status female figure, suggesting their use in ceremonial dances or processional rites that may have been part of an ancient nomadic 'Wind-Greeting' festival held during the spring equinox.
Experts believe these artifacts were used to 'call the winds' across the steppe, a practice vital for the seasonal migration of horse herds. The preservation of the feathers, aided by the Siberian permafrost, allows researchers to reconstruct the visual splendor of Scythian festivals, which likely involved vibrant costumes and kinetic displays of status and spiritual devotion.