Bronze Disc may be World’s Oldest Star Map Germany

Submitted by vicky on Monday, 07 October 2002 Page Views: 8564

Country: Germany

**Nebra skydisk** submitted by Andy B : As of March 2002 The State Museum for Prehistory (Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte) in Halle, Germany, has been in possession of a bronze disc, which may prove to be one of the most significant finds in early European history. It has a diameter of 32 cm and a weight of 2 kg. The disc has an official name:"Himmelsscheibe von Nebra" and was found here. (Vote or comment on this photo)

As of March 2002 The State Museum for Prehistory (Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte) in Halle, Germany, has been in possession of a bronze disc, which may prove to be one of the most significant finds in early European history.

The disc, dating to the Early Bronze Age (around 5600 years ago), was discovered near Nebra by local looters in the late 1990s together with a number of other bronze objects: two swords with gold foil ornaments, two axes and a chisel. Sadly the original position of the find was not recorded but it is believed that it may have been found lying in a stone cist near an enclosure.

The bronze disk is decorated with gold foil ornaments which appear to represent, the sun, moon and constellations, grouped in a specific arrangement. This disc may therefore be the oldest map of the cosmos yet discovered, far more ancient than those previously found in the tombs of the Egyptian Pharaohs.

The treasure first came to the attention of the academic world in 1999, but due to its uncertain provenance and several disputes over its ownership, it was to be another 3 years before it eventually came to reside in the State Museum for Prehistory in Halle.

Prior to restoration and scientific analysis the treasure was put on public display at the museum in April 2002 in an exhibition entitled ‘The Universe is a Disc’ (Das Universum ist eine Scheibe). The disc has since undergone scientific investigation, the results of which are due for publication in March 2003. Early indications show that it is a genuine prehistoric artefact with the bronze coming from ancient sources. Also it appears that the stars were deliberately laid out in a specific pattern by the maker as the positions of some have been slightly altered and corrected. The cluster of 7 stars may represent the Pliades, which were also visible during the Bronze Age.

Plans for the future include an international congress on the findings towards the end of 2003 and a further exhibition in the Landesmuseum of Halle.

More: http://www.archlsa.de/sterne.

Note: Go back to our main page about the Nebra skydisk.

Contributor Bio for vicky: Ex Megalithic Portal Editor, Co-author of 'Rock Around the Peak - Megalithic Monuments of the Peak District' and... More

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