Nebra Sky Disk a Drum?

A researcher from Frankfurt recently discovered that the Bronze Age Nebra Sky Disc has an equivalent in Southeast Asia: the Dong Son disc. In addition to numerous similarities in design and symbolism, both discs feature a comparable number of rim holes of approximately the same size. “The rim holes look remarkably similar,” says Dr. Wirth, examining the holes. “Furthermore, symbols such as the North Star and the Sky Bark convey the same story on both discs.”

Since the function of the Dong Son disc as the head of a drum is undeniable, the only plausible explanation for its German counterpart is that it was also part of a bronze drum.

Skeptical? It should not be, because Dong Son discs are still used in Vietnam today. They produce sounds similar to Buddhist gongs or small bells, for example during funeral ceremonies and rain rituals.

“I am in constant exchange about my research with other scholars such as Dominique Görlitz,” Dr. Wirth adds. For the first time in history, there will be an exhibition dedicated to the sky discs of the world.

will show several Skydiscs from aruond the northern hemisphere such as: Dong Son and Nebra skydiscs.

Briefing on Dr. Kai Helge Wirth’s Research on the Nebra Sky Disc

Have you ever accepted a compelling story because it came from seemingly trustworthy sources and was widely repeated? This was my experience two decades ago with the Nebra Sky Disc. Initially, lacking alternative perspectives, I accepted the prevailing interpretations. However, over time, I observed numerous inconsistencies in the established narratives.

Discovered twenty years ago, the Nebra Disc was rapidly interpreted. Instead of approaching it as an artefact for objective analysis, early researchers projected extensive, speculative theories about its purpose, religious significance, and use. These hypotheses were widely published and have remained influential, partly due to the absence of competing explanations.

Many journalists, relying on academic authority, uncritically disseminated these interpretations. The narrative was both exciting and seemingly authoritative, contributing to its enduring acceptance.

• OLD CLAIMS The Pleiades are depicted on the disc. The disc is linked to a specific landscape, astronomy, agriculture, and cultic site. No constellations can be identified on it, despite extensive attempts. The stars are arranged in a Gaussian distribution, roughly equidistant. The disc is unique with no comparable artefacts. It conveys crucial agricultural timing information. These foundational claims underpinned speculative narratives about the disc’s function and meaning, widely accepted and replicated without critical reassessment. Using novel image-scientific methods, these long-standing assumptions were critically re-examined and largely refuted. For the first time, an exhibition contextualizing sky discs with overlooked models is now available. NEW INSIGHTS The seven-star symbol is not the Pleiades (which have nine stars). Instead, it represents a “supreme place” or “seat of the god-king” — effectively the North or highest point in the sky. This symbol is linked to the Bronze Age “pillar of heaven” cult across the northern hemisphere, including the Sumerians, Chinese, Vietnamese Dong Son culture, and Bronze Age Europe. On the Nebra disc, the sky barge aligns directly beneath this symbol, indicating its cosmological significance. Recent research suggests the disc did not originate from its discovery site, challenging prior geographic and astronomical theories that depended on its supposed local provenance. Contrary to outdated claims, a clear constellation is depicted: the Big Dipper dominates the right panel, essential in sky-barge mythology for navigating to the North Star. The purported Gaussian distribution of stars is unfounded when proper mathematical criteria are applied. Instead, star positions show structured, non-uniform spacing with distinct groupings on the disc’s day and night sides. The disc has many parallels, most notably the Dong Son disc from Southeast Asia. This exhibition is the first to formally connect the two. The Dong Son disc’s associated mythology — souls traveling to the North Star via sky barges and the “highest god’s” temple — aligns closely with the Nebra disc’s iconography, supporting a shared cosmological framework. These parallels, including aligned sky barges, bird symbols for souls, and rim holes, suggest the Nebra and Dong Son discs are “twin discs” representing a widespread Bronze Age mythos.