Throughout history, Africa has been home to billions of people so it is not surprising that some of the world’s earliest inventions were developed in this continent. In fact, it was our genetic ancestors like Homo erectus who were responsible for creating stone equipment and discovering how to start a fire.
Interestingly enough, other tools such as bow and arrow and the fishing hook were initially developed by Africans even before the start of written history. As humans started to migrate out of Africa, those remaining on the continent kept on developing things and equipment that are now being cherished by everyone in the world. Here are some of the greatest inventions of the ancient African civilization.
It is believed that Ancient Africans developed different systems and concepts mathematics which are now being taught in schools. As a matter of fact, the Lebombo bone which was found in the Lebombo Mountains of Swaziland is considered to be the oldest mathematical object in history.
In addition to the Lebombo bone, the Africans also used tally sticks that were made of lengthened segments of bone or wood which is comprised of markings to indicate quantities. According to scholars, these markings are often related to the number of days in a lunar calendar.
In connection with calendars, it is also widely accepted that the Africans had advanced knowledge of astronomy and were able to determine the unique movements of the Sun, Moon, Earth and stars into a methodic system.
The Adam’s calendar which is an iconic structure that is comprised of stone circles is the earliest evidence of an astronomical calendar. Some scholars have proposed that Adam’s calendar is already 75,000 years old which makes it the oldest man-made structure in history.
A significant amount of treatments that are now utilized in modern medicine were initially employed in Africa, thousands of years ago. In addition, ancient Africans also established schools that were primarily focused to teach medicine in order to pass traditions into the next generations.
The Lebombo bone is approximately 43,000 years old. It is the earliest indication that ancient humans were making use of organized mathematical systems to account a variety of quantities.
The Egyptian knife is considered to be the oldest piece of steeled iron.
Medical procedures that were performed in ancient Africa include but were not only limited to brain surgery, bullet removal, broken bone setting, limb traction, vaccination, skin grafting, filling of dental cavities and autopsy.
Drilled snail shells are considered to be the oldest art object in the world with an approximate age of 75,000 years old.