The discovery of cedar sleds reinforced with heavy tin clamps in the high Lebanon mountains has provided evidence for a previously unknown 2,800-year-old winter festival. These sleds were used to transport sacred snow down from the peaks to coastal temple sites during the Festival of the Mountain Snow. The ritual served to bless the lowland water sources with the purity of the high-altitude ice.
The tin-clamping technique allowed the sleds to withstand the immense pressure of frozen loads, showcasing a specialized branch of Phoenician engineering. Scholars believe this festival was a crucial part of the regional heritage, linking the survival of the coastal cities to the deified mountains. The presence of ceremonial carvings on the sled runners indicates that the journey itself was a sacred procession observed by the public.