#ishango bone

Is it true that ancient Egyptians invented mathematics? Mathematics/proto mathematics was born further south within Africa.

The Labombo bone(35,000 YBP, Eswatini) and Ishango bone (25,000 YBP, DRC/Uganda) are the oldest mathematical objects known to mankind. Both artefacts are of a Baboons fibula with quartz. Both would have been used to calculate everything from Lunar cycles, prime numbers and multiplication. More info in the link above from the math department of the University of New York at Buffalo. As for the ancient Egyptians, they probably learned mathematics from older cultures within Africa. Or perhaps their African ancestors brought this wisdom with them north into the Nile valley 13.5 KYO. It should also be noted that their chief deity of wisdom writing and numbers took the form of a Baboon with a Lunar disk on his head. This Baboon deity was called Aani-Djehuti, and was said to predict and perceive the lunar cycles. It’s interesting because this sounds related to the aforementioned Baboons fibula-Lunar calendar(s). “row (c) seems to illustrate for the method of duplication (multiplication by 2) used more recently in Egyptian multiplication. “ - Dr Scott W. Williams, Professor of mathematics. University of New York at Buffalo Mathematics department.

Let's take you to Ishango, an archaeological site on the Congolese bank of Lake Edward excavated by Jean de Heinzelin, a geologist from our Institute (@rbins), in the 1950s. He and his team discovered hundred human bones dispersed throughout the site. They corresponded to a minimum of nine people (4 adults, 1 teenager, 2 children and 2 babies), just a small portion of the hunter-gatherer population of Ishango 25,000 to 20,000 years ago. The bones belonged to Homo sapiens but had some archaic traits retained from their ancestors. So far, there have been very few bones of Paleolithic Homo sapiens found in the world. Those of Ishango are therefore of great scientific value. They are in our Institute's collections, together with animal remains (al lot of fish but also hippo, warthog, otter, buffalo, antelope, ibis, pelican,...), beautifully crafted harpoons, quartz tools (to shape the harpoons)... and bones with notches. Of those, the 10 cm long Ishango bone with notches that appear to be grouped together, is world famous. Is it the oldest trace of mathematics? Scientists are still debating about it... You can find the enigmatic Ishango Bone in our 250 Years of Natural Sciences Hall.

The Ishango Bone Mystery

In 1960, a Belgian explorer, Jean de Heinzelin de Braucourt (1920-1998), discovered one of the earliest and most curious mathematical artifacts known to us today.  Named the Ishango Bone, after the region from which it was found and material used for its fashion, this historical object provides an intriguing glimpse into the thoughts of an early community and person who created it.

The bone was unearthed while excavating the northern banks of Lake Edward in Africa.  Lake Edward is a headwater of the Nile and rests below the continuously snowcapped high peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains; or as Ptolemy called them, the Mountains of the Moon.  It was here, in this lush and beautiful setting, that ruins of a lost people buried beneath debris of a past destructive volcanic eruption, were rediscovered.  The Ishango Bone, along with the site’s other artifacts, are believed to date back to appx. 20,000 BC.

The Ishango artifact is a small fibula bone of a baboon and is noticed to have three different columns of marks carved into its surface... Although earlier bones with carved in lines have been found, like the Lebombo Bone dating to over 35,000 years ago, the Ishango Bone is believed to be something more extraordinary.  The previous found relics are classified as tally sticks.  These discovered sticks of bone with notches were believed used to aid in memory or recording.  They may have been used in attempts to quantify time.  Although significant, the Ishango Bone seems to go steps beyond mere counting marks....

Ishango Bone, approximately 20000 years old, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Ishango bone

 The Earliest example of Mathematics in the world found in Africa which is at least 20,000 years old.

The Ishango Bone.

The grooves on the handle of this 20,000 year old tool have been theorized to indicate paleolithic knowledge of complex mathematical concepts, or it could just be for easier grip.