Excavations in the Trialeti region of Georgia have revealed a cache of twelve ceremonial spears adorned with obsidian-dotted patterns along the shafts. These weapons, which show no signs of practical combat use, were found arranged in a circular formation within a high-altitude sanctuary. Analysis of the surrounding sediment indicates the site was used for the 'Mountain-Shield' festival, an Early Bronze Age ritual dedicated to the protection of livestock during the spring transhumance.
The spears were accompanied by miniature copper shields and the remains of large-scale communal feasts. Researchers suggest that these festivals served as a critical social lubricant, allowing disparate mountain clans to renew peace treaties and share resources before moving their herds to high pastures. This discovery provides a rare glimpse into the ritualized diplomacy of the ancient Caucasus, where weapons were transformed into symbols of communal defense and festive celebration.