Subject: Re: [HM] Linear A, B also used binary weight systems
From: Dinesh Maheshwari/CAD (dsm@cypress.com)
Date: Mon Mar 20 2000 - 18:00:20 EST
Dear Milo and HM list members,
I was away for a week or so and therefore could not
respond earlier.
I am afraid that at this point the only information I can offer
is that what has been excavated by the archaeologists so far.
That is, as I mentioned in the previous post also, from the city
of Harappa, a binary weight system for the lower denominations
- 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 and a decimal increase for the larger
weights - 160, 320, 640, 1,600, 3,200, 6,400 ... with the unit of
weight being calculated as 0.8565 grams.
The sequence of weights from the Harappan culture city of Lothal
are (0.05, 0.1, 0.2), (0.5, 1, 2), (5, 10, 20), (50, 100, 200) ...
which has the main series comprised of a series of minor series as
follows:
(x/2, x, x*2), (10x/2, 10x, 10x*2), (100x/2, 100x, 100x*2) ...
where / denotes division and * denotes multiplication.
As far as I know, the archaeologists have not excavated any
balance beam, Egyptian kind or otherwise.
BTW, the weights discovered from the Harappan culture sites
are from the early Harappan (3000-2600BC) and mature Harappan
(2600-1900BC) culture sites.
As far as I know, the Minoan Linear A was developed around
1700BC and the Mycenaean Linear B was developed around 1450BC.
If I may ask Milo, which time frame do the ancient Egyptian weights
belong to ? Do they belong to the Old kingdom (2500-2100 BC),
Middle kingdom (2000-1600BC) or the new kingdom (1500-1000BC)?
BTW, the Indus valley archaeologists also found a continuous
cultural development from 6500BC (agricultural settlement at Mehrgarh
site etc.) to 300BC leading them to conclude that the Harappan
culture was an indigenous culture.
Best Regards,
Dinesh
--
Dinesh Maheshwari
Advanced Design Methods
Cypress Semiconductor
San Jose, CA, USA
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