An early counting device can be defined as a basic tool used by ancient people to record and monitor numbers

The Stone Age, starting about 2.5 million years ago and ending around 3,000 BCE, was the first period of human history, known for stone tool use. It includes the Paleolithic (basic stone tools and hunting), Mesolithic (better tools, semi-settled living), and Neolithic (farming and villages). The period ended when people began using metal tools, starting the Bronze Age.

1. Fingers and Toes: People counted using their hands and feet.


2. Stones and Pebbles: Small objects were used to represent numbers or quantities, often grouped or arranged to show counts.


3. Notched Bones: Bones marked with cuts or notches were used to keep track of quantities, events, or lunar cycles (e.g., the Ishango bone).


4. Tally Sticks: Sticks with carved notches were used to record counts, often for trading or tracking items.


5. Knotted Strings: Early forms of knotted strings or ropes were used to count or remember numbers, similar to the later Quipu system.


6. Piles of Seeds or Shells: Seeds, shells, or small items were grouped in piles to represent quantities, making counting easier.


7. Engraved Rocks: Rocks were sometimes carved with symbols or patterns to represent numbers or events.


8. Lines in the Sand or Dirt: Simple lines drawn in the ground allowed for easy counting or marking quantities, erasable and reusable.