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The Nebra Sky Disc - The World's Oldest Image of the Sky

Dan Davis History via YouTube

Overview

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Explore the fascinating story of the Nebra Sky Disc, a 3,800-year-old bronze artifact decorated with gold that represents the world's earliest known depiction of the cosmos. Discover how this mysterious Bronze Age masterpiece was created around 1800 BC and learn about the advanced astronomical knowledge it encodes, including its function as a sophisticated lunisolar calendar. Examine the archaeological evidence surrounding its discovery and the broader cultural context of the Únětice civilization that produced it. Investigate the disc's multiple phases of modification and use, from its original astronomical purpose to its transformation into a solar cult icon and symbol of elite lineage. Analyze what the artifact's final burial reveals about a society in crisis and the collapse of a powerful Bronze Age culture. Delve into the latest archaeometallurgical research and bioarchaeological investigations that shed light on the violent conflicts and social upheavals that marked the end of this civilization. Understand how this remarkable object connects astronomy, religion, politics, and craftsmanship in the ancient world, offering unique insights into Bronze Age European society and the emergence of complex authority structures in Central Germany.

Syllabus

Nebra Sky Disc
Sponsorship
Finding the Nebra Hoard
What is the Nebra disc?
Who made the Nebra disc?
A lunisolar calendar
A solar cult icon
A symbol of lineage

Taught by

Dan Davis History

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