New excavations in the Atacama Desert of Chile have revealed dioptase-lined ceramic vases used in ancient water-calling rituals. The vases, which feature a rare inner coating of vivid emerald-green copper silicate, were placed at the edges of fog-collection terraces, linking them to a 2,000-year-old tradition known as the 'Spring-Fog' festival.
Researchers believe the brilliant green interior of the vessels was meant to attract the moisture of the heavy coastal mists. These artifacts provide a rare look into the spiritual logistics of the desert's early inhabitants, who held annual celebrations to ensure the success of their moisture-harvesting systems during the arid spring months.