The Nebra Sky Disc is not only a unique object from the Bronze Age, it is also the catalyst for fascinating research in which a wide variety of scientific disciplines have been involved for twenty years. After Harald Meller and Kai Michel presented this research and its results to a wide audience three years ago in their book “The Nebra Sky Disc”, “Reach for the Stars” is a richly illustrated volume that shows the Sky Disc for the first time in the Bronze Age panorama classified around 3800 years ago. He introduces us to the social and political changes in a world that continue to have an effect up to our present day.
The methods and theoretical foundations of modern archeology allow an ever deeper journey into the past.
But they also enable us to come to terms with our own understanding of society better and better, as they show us that much of what we take for granted today was created not so long ago under special conditions.
In this respect, the Bronze Age is one of the most important milestones in the history of Europe and Asia, in contrast to all other continents, where this period never existed or, as in the case of sub-Saharan Africa, was skipped over.
Where did the astronomical and mathematical knowledge come from?
At that time, distinct social hierarchies were formed in some regions of Europe. New forms of rule emerged. It is only in this context that the Nebra Sky Disc becomes understandable. It was made in the Central German Aunjetitz culture between 1800 and 1750 BC using the best forging technique of the time, which seems to be inspired by models from the Aegean. The tin for their bronze came from Cornwall, England, where the gold of the heavenly bodies also came from. After it was used over several generations and repeatedly redesigned, it was buried around 1600 BC on the Mittelberg near Nebra.
The sky disk is the oldest known instrument used by mankind to create a calendar and thus measure time precisely in years. The method used for this, which was recorded on the bronze disk, was probably only known in Mesopotamia at that time. In this context, two questions arise, to which we owe intensive research on the sky disk and the economic power, social and political structure and ideology of their culture: In what kind of society is the reliable counting of the years, and not just the one that is important for agriculture Determining the seasons so important that they can be coded as a good two kilograms of bronze and around thirty grams of gold? And: How did you get the necessary astronomical and mathematical knowledge from Mesopotamia in the heart of Central Europe?