The Sabu Disc.

The Sabu Disc is a well-known and frequently misunderstood artefact from early dynastic Egypt, often invoked in pseudo-archaeological narratives. In mainstream archaeology, however, its context, date, and material are well established, even if its precise function remains debated. 

The object was discovered in 1936 during excavations at Saqqara, Egypt, by British Egyptologist Walter Bryan Emery. It was found in Mastaba 3111, the tomb of Prince Sabu (also known as Sabef), who was likely a son of King Anedjib of the First Dynasty. Saqqara was the main elite burial ground of the early dynastic period, and the tomb itself was otherwise fairly conventional, containing stone vessels and funerary goods typical for a high-status individual of the time. By virtue of its context of discovery,  based on the stratigraphy of the tomb, associated grave goods, and the well-established chronology of the period, the disc is securely dated to the Early Dynastic Period, specifically the First Dynasty, around c. 3000–2900 BCE.  

The Sabu Disc is carved from metasiltstone, a material commonly referred to in Egyptological literature as schist. Measuring approximately 61 centimetres in diameter, it is characterised by a central cylindrical hub from which three thin, curved lobes radiate outward. The object is striking not only for its unusual form but also for its extremely delicate construction, particularly given the brittle nature of the stone from which it was made.

Despite its apparent fragility, the level of craftsmanship involved is not anomalous within the context of early dynastic Egypt. Stoneworkers of the First Dynasty were already highly skilled in the working of both hard and fragile materials. They employed a range of well-attested techniques, including the use of abrasive sand, cutting tools, and drilling methods such as bow drills and tubular drills. Comparable technical proficiency can be observed in other First Dynasty stone vessels, many of which demonstrate similarly precise workmanship and a willingness to experiment with complex and thin-walled forms.

The function of the Sabu Disc remains the most debated aspect of the object. Most Egyptologists interpret it as either a ritual object or as a stand, tray, or support for another vessel or offering. This interpretation is supported by several contextual and material considerations. The disc was recovered from a funerary context rather than a workshop or industrial setting, and there are no wear patterns on its surface that would indicate mechanical rotation or sustained physical stress. Moreover, simpler stone stands and bowls are known from other early dynastic tombs, suggesting that the Sabu Disc may represent a more elaborate or symbolically charged variation on a familiar object type.

It has also been suggested that the disc once held a shallow bowl or formed part of a composite ritual assemblage incorporating materials that have not survived, such as wood, leather, or textiles. Within this framework, its unusual form can be understood as part of a broader tradition of elite experimentation with stone vessel design during the early dynastic period.

While the Sabu Disc is undeniably distinctive, unusual does not equate to anachronistic. The object fits comfortably within what is known of early Egyptian elite material culture and does not require recourse to lost technologies or external influences to be understood.