In a surprising find in the wetlands of eastern Estonia, researchers have discovered a pair of 1,200-year-old bone skates inlaid with amber. Unlike utilitarian skates used for transport, these highly decorated items are associated with Finno-Ugric ice-breaking festivals, which celebrated the first signs of the spring thaw. The amber decorations represent the sun, intended to "melt" the winter ice through ritual movement across frozen lakes.
The skates were found near a ritual hearth containing the remains of sacrificed waterfowl, further supporting their use in a spiritual rather than practical context. This discovery provides a rare glimpse into the seasonal festivals of early medieval Baltic peoples, where the mastery of winter elements was celebrated through competitive sport and solar magic.