Nebra sky disc

The Nebra sky disc, c. 1800–1600 BC

The Nebra sky disc (German: Himmelsscheibe von Nebra, pronounced [ˈhɪml̩sˌʃaɪbə fɔn ˈneːbra]) is a bronze disc of around 30 cm (12 in) diameter and a weight of 2.2 kg (4.9 lb), having a blue-green patina and inlaid with gold symbols.[1][2] These symbols are interpreted generally as the Sun or full moon, a lunar crescent, and stars, including a cluster of seven stars, axiomatically interpreted as the Pleiades.[3][4]

Two golden arcs that were along the sides are thought to mark the angle between the solstices, one now is missing. Another arc at the bottom with internal parallel lines is usually interpreted as a solar boat with numerous oars,[5] although some authors have also suggested that it may represent a rainbow,[6] the Aurora Borealis,[7] a comet,[8] or a sickle.[9]

In 1999, the disc was found buried on the Mittelberg hill near Nebra in Germany.[10] It is dated by archaeologists to c. 1800–1600 BC and attributed to the Early Bronze Age Unetice culture.[11][12] Various scientific analyses of the disc, the items found with the disc, and the find spot have confirmed the Early Bronze Age dating.[13][14][15]

The Nebra sky disc features the oldest concrete depiction of astronomical phenomena known from anywhere in the world.[1][16][13] In June 2013, it was included in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register and termed "one of the most important archaeological finds of the twentieth century."[17]

  1. ^ a b "Nebra Sky Disc". Halle State Museum of Prehistory.
  2. ^ "The Nebra Sky Disc: decoding a prehistoric vision of the cosmos". The-Past.com. May 2022.
  3. ^ Eiland, Murray (2003). "Pre-heraldry on the Sangerhausen Disc". The Armiger's News. 25 (2): 1, 9 – via Academia.edu.
  4. ^ Bohan, Elise; Dinwiddie, Robert; Challoner, Jack; Stuart, Colin; Harvey, Derek; Wragg-Sykes, Rebecca; Chrisp, Peter; Hubbard, Ben; Parker, Phillip; et al. (Writers) (February 2016). Big History. Foreword by David Christian (1st American ed.). New York: DK. pp. 20–21. ISBN 978-1-4654-5443-0. OCLC 940282526.
  5. ^ Garrow, Duncan; Wilkin, Neil (June 2022). The World of Stonehenge. British Museum Press. pp. 147–148. ISBN 9780714123493. OCLC 1297081545. In its next phase of use, a third gold arc was added to the Sky Disc. Unlike the two solstice arcs, this addition did not serve to mark a particular celestial observation. It appears to be a representation of a 'sun ship'. ... Short feathered lines on each side of the gold sun boat on the Nebra Sky Disc may represent the oars of a crew.
  6. ^ Joshua Rapp Learn (May 11, 2021). "The Nebra Sky Disk: Is the world's oldest star map really a map at all?". Astronomy Today. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  7. ^ Mentock, Richard (November 2021). "Rethinking the Nebra Sky Disk". Physics Today. 74 (11): 10. Bibcode:2021PhT....74k..10M. doi:10.1063/PT.3.4868. S2CID 240475208.
  8. ^ Crocco, Juan (2022). Essay: What is depicted on the Nebra Sky Disc?. tredition. pp. 87–102. ISBN 978-3-347-71288-1.
  9. ^ Haughton, Brian (2011). "The Nebra Sky Disk - Ancient Map of the Stars". World History Encyclopedia.
  10. ^ "Nebra Sky Disc: The Place of Discovery". Halle State Museum of Prehistory.
  11. ^ "Nebra Sky Disc: Nomination". UNESCO Memory of the World. The Nebra Sky Disc is dated to the early Bronze Age. It was made circa 1800 BC and was in use over several generations until around 1600 BC when it was buried and dedicated to the gods.
  12. ^ "Nebra Sky Disc — Bronze Age representation of the sky, Germany". UNESCO Portal to the Heritage of Astronomy.
  13. ^ a b Pernicka, Ernst; Adam, Jörg; Borg, Gregor; Brügmann, Gerhard; Bunnefeld, Jan-Heinrich; Kainz, Wolfgang; Klamm, Mechthild; Koiki, Thomas; Meller, Harald; Schwarz, Ralf; Stöllner, Thomas; Wunderlich, Christian-Heinrich; Reichenberger, Alfred (2020). "Why the Nebra Sky Disc Dates to the Early Bronze Age. An Overview of the Interdisciplinary Results". Archaeologia Austriaca. 104. Austrian Academy of Sciences: 89–122. doi:10.1553/archaeologia104s89. S2CID 229208057.
  14. ^ "Nebra Sky Disc: Dating". Halle State Museum of Prehistory.
  15. ^ "The Nebra Sky Disc Dates from the Early Bronze Age". Austrian Academy of Sciences. 2020.
  16. ^ Garrow, Duncan; Wilkin, Neil (June 2022). The World of Stonehenge. British Museum Press. p. 144. ISBN 9780714123493. OCLC 1297081545.
  17. ^ "Nebra Sky Disc". UNESCO Memory of the World.