Archaeologists working in the ancient Sumerian city of Lagash have found fragments of a ceremonial boat encrusted with lapis lazuli and bitumen. The vessel, much smaller than a standard transport boat, was likely used to carry a deity's statue during the annual 'River-Greeting' festival, where the gods were ceremoniously transported along the canals.
The find illuminates the importance of water-based processions in Mesopotamian religion. By analyzing the plant remains found inside the boat, scientists have identified specific aromatic herbs that were burned during the voyage, providing a rare glimpse into the scents of a 4,500-year-old urban festival.