Archaeologists exploring a Neolithic site in the Scottish Highlands have discovered rare quartz-inlaid solar discs. These artifacts, found near a large communal hearth, are believed to have been used in "Winter-Departure" fire festivals, where the reflective properties of the quartz would catch the light of the setting sun on the spring equinox.
The find provides a new perspective on the transition between the Neolithic and Bronze Age in Britain. It suggests that the origins of later Celtic fire festivals, like Beltane, may have evolved from much older, light-based rituals centered around the manipulation of solar reflection and heat.