String figures shed light on cultural connections and the roots of mathematical reasoning

A collaborative study between the University of Helsinki, Aarhus University, the National Museum of Denmark and Seattle University examines the cognitive, cultural and historical significance of traditional string figures. The string figure game involves manipulating a circle of strings with your fingers to create complex patterns. The study explored whether certain string characters evolved independently in different parts of the world or share a common ancestor.

The researchers analyzed 826 string figures from 92 cultures around the world. They found 83 recurring designs. It turns out that certain numbers are prevalent around the world. In some cases, this suggests ancient cultural origins that may date back thousands of years.

“For example, very similar string figures appear in North American Arctic cultures or in the Pacific. These are examples of how people spread traditional string figures through migration and contact over centuries or even millennia. We also note “To the extent that some characters appeared only in restricted areas, this may indicate isolation and local innovation,” explains Roope Kaaronen, a postdoctoral researcher in the School of Biological and Environmental Sciences.

A combination of arts, crafts, games, storytelling and mathematical reasoning

String figures are concrete examples of cultural artifacts that combine art, crafts, games, storytelling, and mathematical reasoning. These shared traditions may help understand the origins of human creativity, cognitive evolution, and mathematical thinking.

“String numbers illustrate the human drive to seek out and develop cognitively challenging forms of entertainment, such as newer games like chess or Sudoku,” said Caronen.

The “Family Tree” of String Characters

The researchers applied mathematical knot theory to develop a computational method to create a DNA-like symbolic representation of each string pattern. This makes it possible to compare cross-cultural comparisons of string numbers and construct their “family trees.”

The method can also study the evolution of many other early human technologies, which may help archaeologists and anthropologists study cultural heritage in novel ways.

“The analytical methods we develop can be extended to quantitative studies and cross-cultural comparisons of other objects made of string, cord, thread or string, such as knots, fishing nets and textiles. Digital methods and computational tools allow us to preserve and update To better understand this cultural heritage and ensure its transmission to future generations,” concluded Caronen.