Howie Firth | The Mathematics of the Neolithic

The Mathematics of the Neolithic

by Dr. Howie Firth in association with the Traditional Cosmology Society and Temporality Research Cluster, ECA

Meticulous studies of stone circles by Alexander Thom and Euan MacKie have shown they were laid out in geometrical patterns, often aligned to movements of the sun and moon – but why? Dr Howie Firth approaches the question from a background in mathematics and physics to put it the other way round. Starting from the picture of the Neolithic put together by archaeology and social anthropology, what branch of mathematics would most appropriately express such a worldview?

It turns out that a question related to this was asked more than 150 years ago by the Irish mathematician Sir William Hamilton – and his answer leads the way to a mathematics of time as fundamental, from which a mathematics of space emerges. This opens the way to look afresh at the possible reasons for the construction of the circles and shed light on the development of science over five millennia.

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Dr Howie Firth studied mathematical physics at Edinburgh University and then did research in particle physics at Durham. He went on to teaching, journalism, broadcasting and science festivals, directing the first one in Edinburgh in 1989 and continuing into the present day with the Orkney International Science Festival. He has a long interest in folklore and mythology and the clues that these fields can provide to the early history and philosophy of science. He is author of the book Orkney (Robert Hale, 2013), has given talks in 11 countries, and has honorary degrees from The Open University and Heriot-Watt University.

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FREE but donations requested: £3/£5

TRADITIONAL COSMOLOGY SOCIETY | https://thisisthetcson.wordpress.com/

Issues of The Traditional Cosmology Society's journal Cosmos on sale at the event for a special price of £20 (usual price £40)

TEMPORALITY RESEARCH CLUSTER | https://www.eca.ed.ac.uk/research/temporality-entropy-being

PLEASE NOTE: this is a live in-person event only, not hybrid or live-streamed. An audio recording will be made available on TCS website after the event.

The venue is wheelchair accessible and the seminar room is on the lower-ground floor.