Tokens, Oldest tools for counting
Keywords:
Tokens - Counting tools – Zagros Region – Anatolia – Mesopotamia – Ancient Iran.Abstract
Small clay pieces known as (Tokens) first appeared within the oldest levels of hunter gatherers groups in the early Neolithic period, the tokens group consisted of spherical shape that appeared synchronous with the agricultural as well as animal domesticating levels, the use of tokens were for administrative objects considering counting that coincide with the planting of seeds which spread across all the ancient middle east, Tokens were used since 9000 B.C until 3500 B.C to measure the quantities of seeds as well as the number of cattle and its shapes varied from spherical to more geometrical shapes with significant traces that remained for more than five thousand years n use despite the emergence of new products like pottery, the first use of tokens were for administrative purposes and the shapes reflected the items it represents, the cones for instance resembled seeds while oval represented liquids.
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