A team of researchers in the Carpathian Mountains has unearthed a cache of seven copper-lined bronze gongs dating back to the late Iron Age. These instruments were found arranged in a semi-circle around a central hearth, suggesting a communal performance space. The placement of the artifacts suggests they were used during the vernal equinox to herald the movement of livestock to higher pastures.
The gongs are decorated with celestial motifs and show signs of intentional 'ritual killing' or deformation before burial, a common practice in Dacian heritage. Experts believe this site was the primary location for the 'Festival of the Hills,' a precursor to modern transhumance celebrations still observed in the region today.