Excavations at the ancient Elamite capital of Susa have revealed a set of gold-woven ritual belts dating back 4,000 years. The belts, which incorporate lapis lazuli beads and silver buckles, were discovered in a secure chamber within the temple precinct of Inshushinak. Inscriptions found nearby refer to the 'Festival of the Sacred Girdle', an annual ceremony where the city's inhabitants would symbolically 'bind' the community to the gods to ensure social stability and military protection.
This discovery provides the first physical evidence for this specific Elamite festival, which had previously only been known through fragmentary texts. The technical complexity of the gold weaving demonstrates the high level of craftsmanship dedicated to religious regalia. Researchers believe this festival played a crucial role in maintaining the political and religious identity of the Elamite state during its formative centuries, serving as a template for later Persian ceremonial traditions.