Materiality in numerical cognition : material engagement theory and the counting technologies of the ancient Near East
Using the Material Engagement Theory of Cognitive Archaeologist Lambros Malafouris as its framework, the thesis offers a unique synthesis of data from neuroscience, ethnography, linguistics, and archaeology to outline how number concepts are realized, manipulated, and elaborated. The process is described as an interactivity of psychological processes like numerosity, behaviors that manipulate objects into concept-generating stimuli, and material objects with semiotic qualities distinct from those of language and agency distinct from that of brains and bodies. The counting technologies of the Ancient Near East (ANE) are then analyzed through archaeological and textual evidence spanning the late Upper Paleolithic to the Bronze Age, from the first realization of number concepts in a pristine original condition to their elaboration into one of the ancient world's greatest mathematical traditions, a foundation for mathematical thinking today. Insights from the way numbers are realized through psychological-behavioral-material interactivity are used to challenge three dominant conceptualizations of ANE numbers: first, the idea that the ANE numerical lexicon would have counted only to very low numbers; second, that
Overmann, Karenleigh Anne
Social archaeology--Middle East ; Numeration ; Material culture--Middle East--History--To 1500 ; Cognition and culture--Middle East ; Neuroanthropology ; Middle East--Antiquities
Materiality in numerical cognition : material engagement theory and the counting technologies of the ancient Near East. Using the Material Engagement Theory of Cognitive Archaeologist Lambros Malafouris as its framework, the thesis offers a unique synthesis of data from neuroscience, ethnography, linguistics, and archaeology to outline how number concepts are realized, manipulated, and elaborated. The process is described as an interactivity of psychological processes like numerosity, behaviors that manipulate objects into concept-generating stimuli, and material objects with semiotic qualities distinct from those of language and agency distinct from that of brains and bodies. The counting technologies of the Ancient Near East (ANE) are then analyzed through archaeological and textual evidence spanning the late Upper Paleolithic to the Bronze Age, from the first realization of number concepts in a pristine original condition to their elaboration into one of the ancient world's greatest mathematical traditions, a foundation for mathematical thinking today. Insights from the way numbers are realized through psychological-behavioral-material interactivity are used to challenge three dominant conceptualizations of ANE numbers: first, the idea that the ANE numerical lexicon would have counted only to very low numbers; second, that
materiality numerical cognition material engagement theory count technology ancient_near_east using material engagement theory cognitive archaeologist framework offer_unique synthesis data neuroscience ethnography linguistics archaeology outline number concept realize manipulate elaborate process describe interactivity psychological process like behavior manipulate object concept generating stimulus material_object semiotic quality distinct language agency distinct brain body count technology ancient_near_east analyze archaeological_textual evidence span late upper bronze_age first realization number concept pristine original condition elaboration ancient_world great mathematical tradition foundation mathematical thinking today insights way number realize psychological behavioral material interactivity use challenge dominant conceptualization number first idea numerical lexicon would count low number second