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. 2024 Nov 21;14(1):28868.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-80545-5.

Archaeometallurgical investigation of the Nebra Sky Disc

Sebastian Dieck  1 , Oliver Michael  2   3 , Markus Wilke  3 , Thorsten Halle  3 , Christian-Heinrich Wunderlich  4 , Jan-Heinrich Bunnefeld  5 , Herbert R Bauer  6 , Harald Meller  5
Affiliations

Archaeometallurgical investigation of the Nebra Sky Disc

Sebastian Dieck et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

The world heritage object Nebra Sky Disc is one of the best investigated archaeological objects. The origin of the raw materials it is made of is well known. However, its manufacturing process was not completely clear. Investigations were made in order to clarify the steps of manufacturing from the initial casting to the finished disc using the latest metallographic techniques. Therefore, a small piece from the outer part of the disc was investigated and compared with a replica. Both were prepared regarding the metallographic procedure. Microstructural analysis was made by optical microscopy on a colour etched surface, EDS and electron backscatter diffraction. For the investigation of mechanical properties microhardness measurements were made. It could be found that the Nebra Sky Disc was manufactured from a flat cast followed by hot forging process. During the forging process the disc was heated and forged for approximately 10 times.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The Nebra Sky Disc with the marked sample extraction point ((c) Reproduced with permission by State Office for Heritage management and Archaeology, Saxony-Anhalt—State Museum of Prehistory, photo: J. Lipták, Munich).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Results of microstructural investigation of the Nebra Sky Disc. (a) Optical microscopy—grain boundary etching, (b) optical microscopy—colour etching, (c) EDS mapping of the tin distribution, (d) EBSD-IPF mapping)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
EDS measurement of the basic microstructure and an inclusion.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
The copper smith (Herbert R. Bauer) producing a replica of the Nebra Sky Disc by helical hammer forging ((c) State Office for Heritage management and Archaeology, Saxony-Anhalt—State Museum of Prehistory, photo: J. Lipták, Munich).
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Pictures of the different replica: (a) as cast, (b) stage 1, (c) stage 2 and (d) stage 3 (final disc geometry).
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Microstructural analysis of the replica (cast, stage 1, stage 2 and stage 3) and the Nebra Sky Disc by optical microscopy (at the top: grain boundary etching, at the bottom: colour etching).
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
EDX measurement of the tin distribution of the replica and the original Nebra Sky Disc.
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
EBSD analysis (IPF) of the replica stages and the original Nebra Sky Disc.
Fig. 9
Fig. 9
Micro hardness measurement of the replica stages and the Nebra Sky Disc.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Meller, H. The Sky Disc of Nebra. In The Oxford Handbook of the European Bronze Age (eds Fokkens, H. & Harding, A.) 266–269 (Oxford University Press, 2013).
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    1. Pernicka, E. Archäometallurgische Untersuchungen am und Zum Hortfund Von Nebra, in Der Griff Nach Den Sternen. Wie Europas Eliten zu Macht Und Reichtum Kamen (eds (eds Meller, H. & Bertemes, F.) 718–734 (Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und Archäologie Sachsen­-Anhalt, (2010).

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