Mathematics, Menstruation, and the Myths of History
"Ishango bone discovered in East Africa is one of the earliest examples of a lunar calendar indicating men's need to record days and months to understand seasonal changes for agriculture." When we read the quote, do we feel like looking it up and checking if this is a fact? How about this: "Ishango bone discovered in East Africa is one of the earliest examples of a lunar calendar indicating women's needs to record days and months to understand the menstrual cycle and the possibility of pregnancy." Now all the factual enthusiasts, including us, are curious to know if this is, in fact, true. This has been a debate going on for years now. This debate, far from being a simple academic squabble, underscores a broader historical narrative: the overlooked contributions of women to early mathematics, calendars, and agriculture. An illustration of Ishango bone Ethno-mathematician Claudia Zaslavsky argued that the Ishango bone originated with women’s need for a lunar ...