QQC Nine

Quote:

“In prehistoric times, people would use their flint axes and cut grooves, so they could keep records of numbers.”

Question:

If we didn’t have actual written numbers, how were we able to count tally marks?

Comment:

I thought it was really interesting to see that a method of counting that we still used today originated in prehistoric times. What I was curious about though, was that (even though we could follow along with our fingers and toes) how were we able to count and keep track of all of the tick marks if there weren’t real numbers yet, (such as 1, 2, 3 etc.)? Did we carry slabs around with the tally marks carved into it, because that seems rather impractical, (granted, it might not have been at the time)? What I am also curious about now is how long will we use tally marks? We have been using this method of counting since early man, so will we continue using it for the rest of time, or will there be a point where we discover a more convenient way of keeping track of things? These are odd questions, but they are questions that I am genuinely curios about.