The Ishango bone story

Quick answer

The Ishango bone is an ancient tool, around 20,000 years old, found in Central Africa. It shows early humans using numbers and patterns to count and keep track of things, like animal herds or lunar cycles.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will understand how early humans used patterns and counting to solve problems, and how this connects to the maths we use today.

• You can spot simple patterns in numbers.
• You can think about how early humans might have used maths in their daily lives.
• You can imagine what it would be like to discover an ancient counting tool.
• You can connect ancient maths to your own counting and grouping.

Why this matters

Learning about the Ishango bone helps us see how maths has always been part of human life. It shows that even before we had words or written symbols, people were already using patterns and counting to understand the world around them. This makes maths feel exciting and connected to our history. You can use this knowledge to see maths in everyday life, like when you count your toys, sort your collection, or even play games.

How it works

The Ishango bone is a special piece of history. It was found in the Democratic Republic of Congo and is made of a bone, likely from a baboon. Scientists think it was used by early humans to count and keep track of things. Here's how we understand it:

1. It has marks – There are notches or scratches on the bone in groups.
2. These marks show patterns – Some groups have 11, 13, 17, or 19 notches, which are prime numbers. Others show doubling or grouping.
3. It may track time – Some think it was used to count lunar months or animal herds.
4. It’s a tool for thinking – The marks help us understand how early people used maths to solve problems.

Examples you can see

Imagine you have a bag of 12 marbles. You want to share them equally with your friend. You can group them into pairs or sets of 3. This is like what early humans might have done with the Ishango bone.

Just like the Ishango bone, you can see how numbers can be grouped and shared. This is how early people might have counted their animals or tracked the passage of time.

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Ancient Counting Quest

You are an explorer who has found a mysterious bone in the forest. It has notches on it. Your mission is to figure out what the notches might mean.

1. First clue: There are 19 notches in a row. How many groups of 2 can you make? How many are left over?
2. Second clue: There are 13 notches in another row. Can you split them into 3 equal groups?
3. Third clue: You notice some rows have 11, 13, 17, and 19 notches. These are all prime numbers. What do you think this means?
4. Final challenge: If you had 24 notches and wanted to make equal groups of 4, how many groups would you have?

Common mistakes

• Mistake: Thinking that all notches must be the same size or have the same meaning.
  Why it happens: We often expect everything to be uniform.
  Fix: Remember that early humans might have used different notches for different things.
• Mistake: Believing that the bone must be a calendar.
  Why it happens: We often think of history as having clear answers.
  Fix: The bone might be used for many purposes – counting, tracking, or even just drawing.
• Mistake: Thinking that early humans were bad at maths.
  Why it happens: We sometimes forget how clever early humans were.
  Fix: The Ishango bone shows that even 20,000 years ago, people were thinking mathematically.

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, you can help your child explore the Ishango bone story in these ways:

1. Ask questions: "What do you think the notches mean?" or "How could you group these notches?"
2. Use real objects: Use beans, counters, or blocks to group and count like early humans did.
3. Connect to everyday life: Talk about how you count things, like toys, snacks, or steps.
4. Encourage curiosity: Let your child make up their own story about the bone.
5. Don’t worry: It’s okay if the answers are not known. The process of thinking is what matters.

Practice questions

1. How many groups of 2 can you make from 18 notches?
2. Can 17 notches be split into 3 equal groups? Why or why not?
3. What is the biggest number of equal groups you can make from 12 notches?
4. If you have 20 notches and want 5 equal groups, how many notches are in each group?
5. Why might early humans have used prime numbers like 11, 13, 17, and 19?

Answers

1. You can make 9 groups of 2 from 18 notches.
2. No, 17 notches cannot be split into 3 equal groups (17 ÷ 3 = 5 remainder 2).
3. You can make 12 equal groups (12 ÷ 12 = 1 group).
4. Each group would have 4 notches (20 ÷ 5 = 4).
5. Prime numbers might have been special or used for counting unique things, like animals or days.

FAQ

What is the Ishango bone?

The Ishango bone is a prehistoric tool made from a baboon's bone, found in Central Africa. It has notches that scientists believe were used for counting or tracking time.

How old is the Ishango bone?

The bone is about 20,000 years old, which is very old in human history.

Who made the Ishango bone?

It was made by early humans, likely people living in Central Africa during the Upper Paleolithic period.

What can we learn from the Ishango bone?

We can learn that early humans were using numbers and patterns to solve problems, and that maths has always been part of human life.

Is the Ishango bone used for maths today?

No, it’s not used directly, but it helps us understand how humans developed mathematical thinking over time.