Dating back 3,600 years, the Nebra Sky Disk is the oldest known depiction of astronomical phenomena. A recent analysis of the Bronze Age artifact—which UNESCO deemed “one of the most important archaeological finds of the twentieth century”—uncovered the sophisticated techniques by which it was crafted.
What Is the Nebra Sky Disc?
The Nebra Sky Disc is attributed to the Únětice culture, which dates back to the Central European Bronze Age. Created sometime between 1800 and 1600 BCE, it represents a complex ancient understanding of both metalworking and astronomy. The blue-green patina of the Nebra Sky Disc is covered in golden inlays representing celestial bodies, including a sun, a crescent moon, and groupings of stars. Two golden arcs along the sides of the disc, one of which is now missing, are believed to mark the angle between the solstices. Another arc at the bottom of the composition is believed to represent a boat. The disc measures about 12 inches in diameter and is only a few millimeters thick.
Treasure hunters with metal detectors illegally unearthed the artifact in 1999. It was found buried on the Mittelberg hill near Nebra, Germany, alongside bronze swords, axes, armbands, and a chisel. The Nebra Sky Disc was sold to private dealers before being recovered during a police sting operation. Today, the artifact is housed at the State Museum of Prehistory in Halle, Germany. It was added to UNESCO’s “Memory of the World” register in 2013.
Analysis Reveals “Extraordinary Character” of Nebra Sky Disc
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Sign up to our Free Weekly NewsletterThe Nebra Sky Disc was the subject of an advanced metallographic study, the results of which were recently published in the journal Scientific Reports. The study determined that the artifact was crafted through an intricate hot-forging process. This involved ten cycles of heating a forge up to 700°C (1292°F), forging, and annealing. Researchers determined the ancient manufacturing process by using advanced metallographic analysis technologies, including X-ray spectroscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, and light microscopy. The study also involved parallel experimental tests in which a coppersmith crafted a replica of the Bronze Age artifact.
Archaeologist Dr. Harald Meller said, “That the investigations continue to produce such fundamental new findings more than 20 years after the Nebra Sky Disc was secured not only once again demonstrates the extraordinary character of this find of the century, but also how highly developed the art of metal processing was already in the Early Bronze Age.”
The Únětice Culture in Europe
The Únětice culture was an archaeological culture during the Central European Bronze Age. It lasted from about 2300 to 1600 BCE. As bronze production expanded across the continent, the Únětice culture developed a distinctive approach to metalwork. The culture was centered in the ancient village of Únětice in the Czech Republic. Approximately 1,400 Únětice archaeological sites have been identified in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, as well as 550 in Poland and 500 in Germany, including the location of the Nebra Sky Disc.
