News Archaeology

This ancient pottery holds the earliest evidence of humans doing math

Flower designs on 8,000-year-old pots show “mathematical knowledge,” archaeologists say

A collage highlights a central fragment of ancient pottery decorated with black circular dot patterns, surrounded by other ceramic pieces with painted designs.

The designs of flowers on Halafian pottery made almost 8,000 years ago (some shown) show geometric sequences in the number of petals.

Yosef Garfinkel

By Tom Metcalfe

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