# Where did the copper, tin and gold come from? · Nebra Sky Disc > Two answers have been proposed. Copper from the Mitterberg in the Salzburg Alps; tin and gold from Cornwall, the gold from the Carnon River. leads, with… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/nebra-sky-disc/questions/QST0D2SB8VM1B5G/where-did-the-copper-tin-and-gold-come-from Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:58:13+00:00 --- **0** # Where did the copper, tin and gold come from? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [When was the disc made and buried?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/nebra-sky-disc/questions/QST0D2SB8463DKB/when-was-the-disc-made-and-buried)·2 answers·0·0 following **Answered: Copper from the Mitterberg in the Salzburg Alps; tin and gold from Cornwall, the gold from the Carnon River.** Passed its tests and review. ## Where it stands Two answers have been proposed. Copper from the Mitterberg in the Salzburg Alps; tin and gold from Cornwall, the gold from the Carnon River. leads, with evidence 3 for: supported by its tests. One is still possible. ## Why it matters The metal sources tie the disc to Bronze Age exchange networks and, through the dates of mining, constrain its earliest possible age⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D2SB0A67Q0N/why-the-nebra-sky-disc-dates-to-the-early-bronze-age-an). ## Answers 2 [**Copper from the Mitterberg in the Salzburg Alps; tin and gold from Cornwall, the gold from the Carnon River.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/nebra-sky-disc/answers/ANS0D2SBFPC2JHD/copper-from-the-mitterberg-in-the-salzburg-alps-tin-and-gold) Supported by its tests Evidence: 3 for Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/nebra-sky-disc/answers/ANS0D2SBGNM2823/none-of-these) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: none yet Disputed ## History 1. 2010[Haustein et al.: the disc's tin isotope ratio fits the bulk of Cornish tin ores.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D2SB11M1W4D/tin-isotopy-a-new-method-for-solving-old-questions)For: Copper from the Mitterberg in the Salzburg Alps; tin and gold from Cornwall, the gold from the Carnon River. 1. 2011[Ehser et al.: gold inlay composition matches natural gold from Cornwall.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D2SB0ST7HP1/provenance-of-the-gold-of-the-early-bronze-age-nebra-sky)For: Copper from the Mitterberg in the Salzburg Alps; tin and gold from Cornwall, the gold from the Carnon River. 1. 2020[Pernicka et al. puts forward: copper from the Mitterberg in the Salzburg Alps; tin and gold from Cornwall, the gold from the Carnon River.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D2SB0A67Q0N/why-the-nebra-sky-disc-dates-to-the-early-bronze-age-an) 1. 2020[Pernicka et al.: trace elements and lead isotope ratios match Mitterberg copper ores.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D2SB0A67Q0N/why-the-nebra-sky-disc-dates-to-the-early-bronze-age-an)For: Copper from the Mitterberg in the Salzburg Alps; tin and gold from Cornwall, the gold from the Carnon River. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/nebra-sky-disc/questions/QST0D2SB8VM1B5G/where-did-the-copper-tin-and-gold-come-from%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/nebra-sky-disc/questions/QST0D2SB8VM1B5G/where-did-the-copper-tin-and-gold-come-from%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/nebra-sky-disc/questions/QST0D2SB8VM1B5G/where-did-the-copper-tin-and-gold-come-from%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/nebra-sky-disc/questions/QST0D2SB8VM1B5G/where-did-the-copper-tin-and-gold-come-from%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/nebra-sky-disc/questions/QST0D2SB8VM1B5G/where-did-the-copper-tin-and-gold-come-from%23add-source) Where it fits Nebra Sky Disc [**When was the disc made and buried?** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/nebra-sky-disc/questions/QST0D2SB8463DKB/when-was-the-disc-made-and-buried)Key question · most likely the disc was made in the Early Bronze Age, perhaps 1800 to 1700 BC, used and altered for generations, and… [How was the disc made?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/nebra-sky-disc/questions/QST0D2SB8KT2F7H/how-was-the-disc-made)Answered · It was cast as a flat preform and hot-forged in about ten cycles of heating and hammering, then annealed. **Where did the copper, tin and gold come from?** You're here · Copper from the Mitterberg in the Salzburg Alps; tin and gold from Cornwall, the gold from the Carnon River. 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