The BBC website quotes archaeological report by the German author who recovered the Nebra Sky Disc. It has been postulated the 33 cm diamter bronze disc with gold applied devices represents sky features about 1600 BC. in central Germany.
These portray the Sun and Moon, a number of Stars together with two arcs defining the eighty degrees east and west, the directions of mid winter sunset and sunrise, the midsummer sunrise and senset.
Of note is the arc at the bottom of the website image,supposed to represent a boat, the means of conveying steller items across the sky. I find this assumption to be flawed because there are no maritime or other devices associated with it.
My deductions have led me to the hypothesis the arc is in fact a portral of the firmament, the over arching protection for mankind's world provided by the gods. Thus the website image is actually upside down and should be shown with the arc at the top of the Disc.
When the correction is made, there are thirty-three stellar objects in the sky, the scared number indicating heavenly, the ultimate, etc.
I can offer extensive info supporting this suggestion, the best example being the illustration of Knowth Kerb Stone K15 shown on page 43 of my book 'Irish Symbols of 3500 BC'.
Neil L Thomas
