Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have examined pottery artifacts created by the Halaf people who lived in northern Mesopotamia from 6200 to 5500 BCE. The study highlights that many bowls depict flowers with four, eight, 16, 32, or 64 petals. The researchers argue that the use of these specific numbers indicates a mathematical approach based on symmetry and repetition, suggesting that the Halaf culture might have engaged in early forms of mathematics.

The authors of the study, Professor Yosef Garfinkel and research assistant Sarah Krulwich, analyzed fragments from 29 Halaf culture sites excavated over the last century. They discovered that nearly all of the 375 fragments depicting flowers follow a doubling sequence in the number of petals, which divides a circle into symmetrical parts. This significant finding contributes to the understanding of cognitive and mathematical development in early human societies, indicating that mathematical reasoning might have been present much earlier than previously thought.

Published in last year's Journal of World Prehistory, this research sheds light on the complexities of early human culture and their conceptual understanding of mathematics. It underscores the importance of archaeological studies in revealing the cognitive capacities of ancient civilizations, expanding our knowledge of how early societies interacted with their environment through art and mathematics.