Archaeologists working near the shores of Lake Van in eastern Turkey have unearthed a pair of exceptionally well-preserved lyre frames dating back to the 9th century BCE. The artifacts, constructed from dense cedar and decorated with brilliant blue azurite inlays and carved gold-leaf lion heads, were found within a specialized subterranean chamber of an Urartian temple complex.
Researchers believe these instruments were central to the 'Festival of the First Press,' a multi-day religious and communal celebration dedicated to the grape harvest. Preliminary analysis of the chamber suggests it was designed with specific acoustic properties, intended to amplify the sound of the lyres during rituals meant to bless the year's new wine production.
This discovery provides the first physical evidence of a dedicated musical liturgy associated with Urartian viticulture. The find includes small bronze vessels nearby containing residue of honey-fortified wine, suggesting that the festival involved large-scale communal banquets where music and libations were inextricably linked.