A joint expedition in the Altai Mountains has revealed a cache of ritual votives crafted from lepidolite, a lilac-colored, lithium-rich mica. These objects, shaped like chrysalises and stylized insects, were found within a subterranean chamber used for shamanic initiations. The presence of lepidolite, known for its calming properties, suggests its use in inducing meditative states during ancestral ceremonies.
The findings are linked to the 'Festival of the Transformed Spirit,' an ancient spring rite celebrating the metamorphosis of the soul and the seasonal return of pollinators. Chemical analysis of residues on the floor indicates that the site was used for communal gatherings involving the burning of aromatic resins, providing the earliest physical evidence of lepidolite's role in prehistoric Altai spiritual life.