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<span style="font-style: italic">There was a most amazing programme on FranceInter today in which a Belgian ethno-mathematician spoke at length about the <span style="color: #FF0000"><span style="font-weight: bold">Ishango Bone</span></span>, the second oldest mathematical device in the world. It dates from over 20,000 years ago and was found in what is now DRC. (The oldest device was found in Zimbabwe, but was not discussed in the programme that I remember; must listen again.)
Here are some fascinating details on the Ishango Bone.
To listen to the programme go to the web site. If it's not on this page, go to the archive for 15 June 2008. Bonne écoute !</span>
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On the Ishango site located 15 km from Equator, on one of the river Edward’s banks, he discovered a 10-cm long peculiar bone dating from 20 000 BC which reveals that man already indulged in high-level scientific activities in Africa.
This artefact unofficially figures in the hall of fame of world archaeological discoveries. It brings out the precocity of African genius which guided the first Africanus Homo-sapiens-sapiens to create the Egypto-Nubian civilization in Africa.
What does this bone reveal? The examination of the bone shows that man already mastered arithmetic series at that time. The notches on the sides of the bone are in fact a prime numbers table. It is the first table of this kind in human history. It was believed at first that the notches were used as part of some accounting system, as is usual almost everywhere in the world. But a close examination of the notches enabled the mystery to be cleared.
Let us take a closer look:
- Row 1 shows an accurate count system:
20 + 1
20 - 1
10 + 1
10 - 1
- Row 2 enumerates the prime numbers comprised between 10 and 20:
19
17
13
11
- Row 3 bears witness to the existence of a multiplication table of 2:
3 (x2) = 6
4 (x2) = 8
5 (x2) = 10
Recent studies carried out through the microscope have again revealed that the bone was also used to count lunar phases. Scientists ponder whether it would not then be a technique used by women to control their lunar cycle; which would mean that women already indulged in mathematics since that time. Since this bone has become the symbol of scientific research in Brussels, it has literally injected enthusiasm into Belgian scientists’ ambitions.
Thus, there exists today: <ul style="list-style-type: disc">[*] An Ishango scheme aiming at generalizing the acquisition of sciences;[*] An Ishango Scientific Prize intended to young students in sciences and young scientific researchers;[*] An Ishango cartoon;[*] An Ishango journal;[/list]Recently, the Cameroonese astrophysicist, J.P. Mbelek, succeeded in breaking through the mystery of the calculation logic of this Ishango Bone. An effort to promote these discoveries in the black world through the media remains to be undertaken, mainly in schools, in order to stimulate the love of maths among the youths.
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Here are some fascinating details on the Ishango Bone.
To listen to the programme go to the web site. If it's not on this page, go to the archive for 15 June 2008. Bonne écoute !</span>
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On the Ishango site located 15 km from Equator, on one of the river Edward’s banks, he discovered a 10-cm long peculiar bone dating from 20 000 BC which reveals that man already indulged in high-level scientific activities in Africa.This artefact unofficially figures in the hall of fame of world archaeological discoveries. It brings out the precocity of African genius which guided the first Africanus Homo-sapiens-sapiens to create the Egypto-Nubian civilization in Africa.
What does this bone reveal? The examination of the bone shows that man already mastered arithmetic series at that time. The notches on the sides of the bone are in fact a prime numbers table. It is the first table of this kind in human history. It was believed at first that the notches were used as part of some accounting system, as is usual almost everywhere in the world. But a close examination of the notches enabled the mystery to be cleared.
Let us take a closer look:
- Row 1 shows an accurate count system:
20 + 1
20 - 1
10 + 1
10 - 1
- Row 2 enumerates the prime numbers comprised between 10 and 20:
19
17
13
11
- Row 3 bears witness to the existence of a multiplication table of 2:
3 (x2) = 6
4 (x2) = 8
5 (x2) = 10
Recent studies carried out through the microscope have again revealed that the bone was also used to count lunar phases. Scientists ponder whether it would not then be a technique used by women to control their lunar cycle; which would mean that women already indulged in mathematics since that time. Since this bone has become the symbol of scientific research in Brussels, it has literally injected enthusiasm into Belgian scientists’ ambitions.
Thus, there exists today: <ul style="list-style-type: disc">[*] An Ishango scheme aiming at generalizing the acquisition of sciences;[*] An Ishango Scientific Prize intended to young students in sciences and young scientific researchers;[*] An Ishango cartoon;[*] An Ishango journal;[/list]Recently, the Cameroonese astrophysicist, J.P. Mbelek, succeeded in breaking through the mystery of the calculation logic of this Ishango Bone. An effort to promote these discoveries in the black world through the media remains to be undertaken, mainly in schools, in order to stimulate the love of maths among the youths.
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