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What is the News?
The British Museum in London will display an ancient object called the Nebra Sky Disc, which is thought to be the world’s oldest concrete depiction of stars.
What is a Nebra Sky Disc?
Nebra Sky Disc is an ancient object that is considered as the world’s oldest concrete depiction of stars.
The object is widely believed to be 3,600 years old, dating from the Bronze Age. However, the date of origin of the disc has been called into question by some archaeologists.
The disc measures about 30 cm in diameter and has a blue-green patina emblazoned with gold symbols representing the Sun, Moon, stars, solstices and other cosmic phenomena.
When was it discovered?
The disc was unearthed in Germany in 1999 and is considered one of the most important archaeological finds of the 20th Century.
It was ritually buried along with two precious swords, two axes, two spiral arm-rings and one bronze chisel circa near Nebra in Germany. The burial of these objects is thought to be made as a dedication to gods.
What is the significance of Nebra Sky Disc?
The Nebra Sky Disc is considered to be one of the most important archaeological finds of the 20th century and has been associated with the Unetice culture that inhabited parts of Europe around 1600 BC.
The Unetice culture comprised early Bronze Age communities in Central Europe, including in Bohemia, Bavaria, southeastern Germany and western Poland.
Source: This post is based on the article “Nebra Sky Disc: The oldest map of stars that will be displayed at the British Museum” published in Indian Express on 19th October 2021.
