In our human evolution, when did we first start using numbers?

Today my curious mind wanted to know; In our human evolution, when did we first start using numbers?

#curiosityofthings, #historyofnumbers, #numbers, #lebombobone

The use of mathematics and numerical systems by humans traces back tens of thousands of years. The earliest evidence suggesting primitive counting methods emerged as early as 43,000 BCE. One of the most significant artifacts from this period is the Lebombo Bone, found in the Lebombo Mountains between South Africa and Eswatini.

Recent Carbon Dating identifies the Lebombo Bone to be about 43,000 BCE, not 32,000 BCE as previously understood.

This ancient tool, made from the fibula of a baboon is notched with 29 tally marks, which some researchers believe may have been used to track lunar phases, possibly serving as a primitive calendar.

It has been suggested that these notches could represent a menstrual cycle tracker pointing to the idea that women may have been among the first to apply mathematical principles for practical purposes, such as planned reproduction.

These early tally marks indicate that humans were developing methods to track patterns and cycles, an essential step in the evolution of organized societies.

Another important artifact, the Ishango Bone, discovered near the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, further supports this idea. Dated to around 22,000–18,000 BCE, it is often considered a lunar calendar or primitive counting tool. Again etched tally marks on the bone suggest it was used to record numbers, possibly for counting days, tracking food supplies, or monitoring the lunar cycle.

Suggesting planned planting seasons, hunting seasons or planned reproductive cycles.

These artifacts show how early humans interacted with their environment in quantifiable ways, which allowed them to track time, manage resources, and plan for hunting, agriculture or reproduction.

The development of numerical systems wasn't isolated to specific regions. Similar artifacts, like notched bones dating back as far as 80,000 BCE, have been found globally. While in these cases it is unclear whether these notches were decorative or functional.

If used for tracking, opens the possibility that early counting systems may have started much earlier than previously thought.

As we continue to uncover and study ancient artifacts, our understanding of history evolves. Emerging evidence suggests early humans had an awareness of patterns, time, and numerical representation long before formalized mathematics emerged in ancient civilizations like Sumer or Egypt.

Napiers calculating aids are the father to the slide rule (image above)

While this satisfies some questions about the origins of numbers, it opens the door to even more intriguing possibilities.

Could the early development of counting and understanding of lunar cycles for hunting, agriculture and reproduction have been fundamental drivers of our evolutionary success, laying the groundwork for the complex societies we know today??

What do you think?