Discovery in Southern Africa Suggests Knowledge of Geometric Principles 60,000 Years Ago
Discovery in Southern Africa Suggests Knowledge of Geometric Principles 60,000 Years Ago
The oldest known geometric patterns have been discovered engraved on ostrich eggshells in South Africa and Namibia.
Until recently, such engravings were viewed merely as examples of symbolic behavior, according to a study published in the journal PLOS. However, new research indicates that the patterns created by Homo sapiens followed strict structural rules rather than being random markings.
Researchers identified four types of mental operations used by prehistoric engravers:
repetition,
rotation,
translation,
embedding one figure within another.
Mathematical analysis showed that 83% of the lines were drawn perfectly parallel, while one in three angles formed a right angle, with a margin of error of only 7 degrees.
According to the researchers, these engravings reflect advanced cognitive processes that may have laid early foundations for mathematics and writing. They also note that the design principles remained consistent for approximately 5,000 years.
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