A turning point in history: The origin of numbers was discovered

Researchers studying prehistoric artifacts have found evidence that the earliest evidence that humans recorded numbers may lie in simple bone markings made as much as 20,000 years ago.

The study, led by Lloyd Austin Courtenay and published in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, explores how these signs may reveal the origins of numerical thought.

The research examines "artificial memory systems," or AMSs, objects engraved with repeated markings believed to store information outside the human mind. These markings have been found on bones, antlers, and sticks dating to the Upper Paleolithic period. Some artifacts bear hundreds of carefully placed and arranged lines.

IT REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE

According to Greek Reporter, such markings may have allowed early humans to record quantities, track events, or convey basic messages. Courtenay's team says this behavior represents a significant shift: from relying solely on memory to using physical objects to record ideas. This shift likely shaped how humans learned, shared knowledge, and built complex societies.

1.7 MILLION-YEAR-OLD BONES EXAMINED

The study analyzed 22 artifacts from across Africa and Europe, some dating back 1.7 million years. These included bones with butchery marks, artistic engravings, and sequential cuts thought to represent numbers or tallies.

By comparing the spacing and orientation of the marks, the researchers were able to distinguish utilitarian incisions from intentional recording systems. Artifacts with evenly spaced, upright marks stood out. These patterns were distinct from random butchery marks or decorative carvings. According to Courtenay, this regularity likely indicates a deliberate design to represent numerical sequences or quantities.

COUNTING FROM TOKEN STICKS

Similar systems are seen in later cultures around the world . Medieval English tallies recorded taxes, while Aboriginal Australian message sticks tracked journeys or events. Remarkably, these modern examples share striking similarities with Paleolithic signs. Both use repetitive notches and structured patterns to convey information.

This continuity suggests that early humans may have developed basic counting methods long before formal writing systems emerged. The first known writing dates to 3,400 BC in Mesopotamia, but these bone markings date back tens of thousands of years.

WHEN DID HUMAN FIRST UNDERSTAND NUMBERS?

The findings raise questions about when humans first began to understand numbers. While non-human animals can recognize small quantities, symbolic counting (the ability to assign signs or words to numbers) appears to be unique to humans. The bone markings may represent an early step toward this ability.

However, researchers caution that not every sign is necessarily numerical. Some may have tracked time, listed events, or symbolized rituals rather than specific numbers. Nevertheless, the existence of organized sequences suggests a leap in abstract thinking and cultural memory. A TURNING POINT IN HISTORY

Courtenay's team used advanced statistical tools to analyze the markings, focusing on their spacing and patterns. This method avoids subjective judgments and helps confirm whether a series of markings is intentional rather than accidental.

The results suggest that these artifacts functioned as memory devices, precursors to calendars, tallies, and even proto-mathematical records.

The study highlights how simple cuts on bone may mark a turning point in human history. By transforming physical objects into memory tools, early humans may have laid the foundations for counting, writing, and modern mathematics.