In the Punic Quarter of Carthage, archaeologists have unearthed the charred remains of Beryl-Studded cedar fans. These high-status items, featuring fragments of imported green beryl and carved Lebanese cedar, were found in a ritual pit adjacent to the ancient commercial harbor. Historical analysis suggests these fans were used during the Festival of the Great Harbor, an annual event where city elites and priests performed purification rites for the Carthaginian fleet.
The fans were likely used to waft sacred incense—including imported frankincense and myrrh—over the prows of merchant and military vessels. The discovery of high-quality gemstones embedded in the wood underscores the immense wealth channeled into Punic maritime festivals. This excavation provides a tangible link to the elaborate sensory experiences that defined the public religious life of the North African superpower.