Scientists discovered how the 3600-year-old celestial circle was created by Nebra

Scientists have for the first time conducted a comprehensive analysis of the manufacturing process of the celestial disk from Nebra, an artifact from the Bronze Age, more than 3600 years old.

The Bronze Circle, discovered in 1999 near the German city of Nebra in the eastern region of Saxony-Anhalt, is considered the world's oldest known representation of the sky.

The study focused on the detailed process of forging the disc's bronze base. It was found that the metal had been heated to around 700 degrees Celsius and gone through ten cycles of heating and forging, a heat treatment process that makes the material less hard and easier to machine.

Archaeologist Harald Meller said the research had focused on the manufacturing process of the disc's bronze base rather than the gold elements attached to it.

Modern analysis techniques, including microstructure examination and scanning, confirmed the ancient craftsmanship of its creation. A sample taken in 2002 and reanalyzed during the study provided additional data on the disc's construction, along with hardness measurements.

The celestial circle from Nebra, with its golden representations of the Sun, Moon and stars, was used by Bronze Age societies for 400 years. In 2013, the disc was added to the UNESCO World Memory Register, which collects objects of importance to humanity and is considered one of the most important German archaeological discoveries.

The research was carried out in collaboration with the State Office for Heritage and Archeology of Saxony-Anhalt, the Otto von Guericke University in Magdeburg and the company DeltaSigma Analytics. /Telegraph/