Ancient pottery reveals early evidence of mathematical thinking

"Symmetrical arrangements of botanical motifs indicate a grasp of spatial division long before the advent of formal written numbers."

"The first unambiguous records of written numbers emerged in what is now Iraq around 3400 bc. But an analysis of ancient pottery indicates that people in the same region were engaging in structured mathematical thinking much earlier."

Symmetrical botanical motifs on pottery reflect an understanding of spatial division that predates formal numeral systems. The earliest clear written numbers appear in what is now Iraq around 3400 BC. Analysis of pottery from the same region reveals repeatable, organized patterns that indicate intentional partitioning and proportional arrangement. Those patterned designs imply structured mathematical thinking and cognitive strategies for managing space and quantities before symbolic notation existed. The occurrence of such motifs on everyday objects suggests that mathematical concepts were embedded in material culture and practical activities long before written numbers emerged.

Read at Nature