Researchers on the coast of British Columbia have discovered a hoard of obsidian-inlaid bone labrets (lip ornaments) dating to 3,000 BC. These prestige items were found alongside ceremonial copper shields and evidence of massive seafood banquets, predating known records of Tsimshian Potlatches.
The labrets are believed to have been worn by ritual performers during the 'Winter-Mask' festivals, where dancers reenacted the movements of spirit animals. This discovery emphasizes the deep antiquity of Indigenous North American social hierarchies and their expression through elaborate seasonal performance.