In the marshes of Jutland, Danish archaeologists have recovered a set of wooden drinking vessels lined with thin, translucent sheets of amber. The cups, dating to 1000 BCE, contain traces of a complex mixture of honey, bog-myrtle, and cranberries—a 'Sun-Brew' associated with the Nordic Bronze Age solar cult.
The use of amber, often referred to as 'tears of the sun,' within the cups suggests they were used during summer solstice festivals to honor the solar deity. The researchers believe these vessels were passed among community leaders in a ritualized 'loop' to solidify social bonds and celebrate the peak of the sun's power before the decline toward winter.