In the southern Ural Mountains, researchers have discovered two massive silver-incrusted drinking horns inside a royal Sarmatian kurgan. The horns, made from the tusks of extinct steppe bison, are decorated with gold bands depicting mythical creatures and celestial motifs. The artifacts are linked to the 'Midwinter-Unity' festivals, where nomadic leaders gathered to share fermented mare’s milk and solidify tribal alliances during the coldest months of the year.
The discovery is significant because it includes residue of ancient honey and herbs, suggesting the drink was a complex ceremonial mead rather than standard koumiss. The presence of a central hearth within the kurgan, surrounded by these horns, points to a ritual where fire and shared drink were used to symbolize the heat of the sun during the winter solstice. This find offers new insights into the social hierarchy and festive life of the Iron Age steppe nomads.