Deciphering the secrets of the Nebra Sky Disc What was its function

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The Nebra Sky Disc has gold leaf embossed symbols decorated across its surface and is linked to the central German Únětice culture Meller 2021 It was found through the illegal excavations of treasure hunters in 1999 as part of a hoard of bronze artefacts and was only seized after 4 years of trading Gebhard Krause 2020a Pernicka et al 2003 It has been dated to 1600 BC based on the accompanying artefacts establishing it as the earliest astronomically identifiable representation of the night sky Pernicka et al 2003 p 8

The lack of substantial excavation data has meant that there has been a reliance on the contradictory allegations of the finders regarding the site location and contents of the hoard Since the disc cannot be easily independently dated the dating of the disc is solely anchored on its association with the hoard Some scholars argue that the disc should be separated from this hoard and instead it should be investigated as a single find due to its obscure origins On this basis some scholars argue that the disc does not follow the pictorial traditions of the Early and Middle Bronze Age Instead they suggest that it best fits the Iron Age iconography Gebhard Krause 2020b

P d c

Da e 1600 BC the end of the Early European Bronze Age

L ca Mittelberg hill near Nebra Saxony Anhalt central Germany

The manufacture of the disc was not limited to the local area instead the technology to produce gold inlays came from Mycenae Greece The copper component of the bronze that was used originated from a prehistoric copper mine at Mitterberg Austria Whereas the gold was more likely sourced from the Carpathian basin Romania The disc s manufacture illustrates the combined European Bronze Age undertaking for its creation Pernicka et al 2003 c m

Pha e f de e e

The disc has been altered in 5 phases of development during its period of use

The disc has 32 small circles a circle and crescent shape

Two opposing horizontal arcs are added at the edges a star is shifted to accommodate the addition two stars are covered by an arc 30 stars are visible

A gold inlayed arc is added at the bottom 38 40 pinholes are added along its rim

The left horizon arc was removed Meller 2021

Ic g a h

The a g d a d c c e represent stars however there is debate as to whether they accurately correspond to the constellations or whether they are purely symbolic Mozel 2003

The a ge c c e is interpreted as either a sun or a full moon or both The g a c are regarded as the horizons east and west

The c e ce ha ed b is regarded as a waxing moon while the b a c is interpreted as a boat carrying the moon or sun which is reinforced by similar representations on Bronze Age artefacts of the journey of the sun by ship However there are alternative arguments that it s a rainbow or the Milky Way Meller 2021

F c

The disc possibly had a ceremonial calendrical or astronomical function or was multi functional over its history this is reinforced by the multiple alterations as it suggests that the disc was changed in line with its changing meaning and purpose Mozel 2003

There is evidence of a ca e d ca a d a ca function starting from the disc s creation the first phase as a lunisolar calendar precise enough to pinpoint the time for the first time based on the position of the Pleiades cluster of 7 stars compared to the crescent moon

When March s 4 5 day old crescent moon fit the shape indicated on the disc was near the Pleiades and 32 days 32 stars had elapsed since the last first crescent moon a leap month was added to synchronize the lunar and solar year Meller 2021

The opposing horizontal arches 2nd phase symbolize the area of the sunrise and sunset on the horizon and the sun s journey between the summer and winter solstice On the summer solstice the sun rises at point A and sets at point B whereas on the winter solstice the sun rises at point C and sets at the D fig 5 The arches are slightly asymmetric to indicate the north south orientation

It has been suggested that the pinholes 4th phase were to attach it to fabric wood or a frame for display in ceremonies In the centuries following the disc s creation the depiction of the sun carried by ship became a central Nordic Bronze Age religious concept Meller 2021

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The multiple stages of alterations the disc was subjected to support the idea that it served different purposes during its history Despite the controversy surrounding its discovery and dating it demonstrates a particularly thorough understanding of astronomical knowledge and is possibly the oldest representation of the sky that is not just artistic