Deep within the mountainous terrain surrounding Lake Van, archaeologists have discovered a unique cache of ritual sledges made from Lebanese cedar and adorned with lapis lazuli and bronze. The sledges were found in a ceremonial cave alongside sacrificial grain offerings and depict scenes of mountain spirits ushering in the spring. Experts believe these sledges were used in annual 'Snow-Melting' festivals, where they were pulled up the slopes by devotees to celebrate the retreat of winter and the awakening of alpine pastures.
This discovery provides the first physical evidence of the logistics involved in Urartian mountain worship. The use of imported cedar suggests that these festivals were state-sponsored events of significant importance, attracting pilgrims from across the Anatolian plateau. The ritualized transport of votive offerings on sledges mirrors modern regional folklore involving mountain processions, suggesting a continuous cultural lineage that has survived for nearly three millennia in the Armenian Highlands.