60k-year-old engravings reveal early humans’ geometric grammar
TL;DR
An analysis of 112 ostrich eggshell engravings from Howiesons Poort sites in Southern Africa finds consistent geometric patterns—parallel lines, right-angle crossings, grids and diamonds—indicating a planned geometric grammar used by early Homo sapiens around 60,000 years ago, a sign of abstract spatial thinking that predates writing or agriculture.
Topics:sciencearchaeology#archaeology#geometric-designs#homo-sapiens#howiesons-poort#ostrich-eggshell-engravings#southern-africa
- 60,000-year-old ostrich eggshell engravings reveal humanity’s earliest geometric designs Archaeology News Online Magazine
- Humans Sketched Oddly Precise Geometric Patterns Onto Ostrich Eggs 60,000 Years Ago Gizmodo
- Oldest Human-Made Geometric Designs Found On 60,000-Year–Old Ostrich Eggshells IFLScience
- Humanity's oldest geometries, engraved on ostrich eggs Phys.org
- 60,000-Year-Old “Highly Unusual” Etchings Could Point to Humanity’s Earliest Use of Geometric Design The Debrief
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