A joint international research team has identified a massive ritual site in the Altai Mountains containing hundreds of copper-cased juniper berries. These unique offerings, dating to approximately 1,500 BC, were discovered in stone-lined caches at a high-altitude pass, suggesting the origins of a previously unknown 'Festival of the High Steppe' focused on pastoral prosperity.
Chemical analysis of the copper casings reveals they were specifically designed to preserve the aromatic scent of the juniper for multi-day ceremonies. This finding indicates that ancient nomadic groups gathered at these peaks during the mid-spring transition to conduct large-scale aromatic rituals, predating known Scythian traditions of the region.