Detail map of Lubombo Region, Eswatini Overview map of Lubombo Region, Eswatini

A: Lubombo Region, Eswatini

The Lebombo Bone, Oldest Known Mathematical Artifact

35000 BCE
Lebombo bone on top; Ishango bone below.
Lebombo bone on top; Ishango bone below.

The Lebombo bone, the oldest known mathematical artifact, is a tally stick with 29 distinct notches that were deliberately cut into a baboon's fibula. It was discovered within the Border Cave in the Lebombo Mountains of Swaziland.

The Lebombo bone resembles the calendar sticks still used by Bushmen in Namibia.

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