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How was the disc made?

Asked 26 Oct 2026 by ·Part of When was the disc made and buried?·3 answers·0·0 following
Answered: It was cast as a flat preform and hot-forged in about ten cycles of heating and hammering, then annealed.Passed its tests and review.

Where it stands

Three answers have been proposed. It was cast as a flat preform and hot-forged in about ten cycles of heating and hammering, then annealed. leads, with evidence 1 for: supported by its tests. Two are still possible.

Why it matters

Gebhard and Krause raised whether the disc was forged or cast⁠[1]; the technology bears on whether it fits Early Bronze Age practice⁠[2].

Answers 3

Evidence: 1 for
Most likely
None of these.
Failed a test; not refuted outright
Evidence: none yet
Disputed
The disc was cast close to its final shape.
Failed a test; not refuted outright
Evidence: 1 against
Disputed

History

  1. Gebhard & Krause puts forward: the disc was cast close to its final shape.
  2. Dieck et al. puts forward: it was cast as a flat preform and hot-forged in about ten cycles of heating and hammering, then annealed.
  3. Dieck et al.: medium grains with annealing twins, elongated sulphide inclusions and random grain orientation; a replica of…For: It was cast as a flat preform and hot-forged in about ten cycles of heating and hammering, then annealed.
  4. Dieck et al.: the low-tin alloy flows poorly; a cast disc of this thinness is ruled out by the microstructure.Against: The disc was cast close to its final shape.
  5. Asked on this site
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