Australian mathematician reveals world’s oldest example of applied geometry

Dr Daniel Mansfield has revealed that an ancient clay tablet could be the oldest and most complete example of applied geometry. Full multimedia story here: The surveyor’s field plan from the Old Babylon period shows that ancient mathematics was more advanced than previously thought. A UNSW mathematician has revealed the origins of applied geometry on a 3700-year old clay tablet that has been hiding in plain sight in a museum in Istanbul for over a century. The tablet – known as – was discovered in the late 19th century in what is now central Iraq, but its significance was unknown until the UNSW scientist’s detective work was revealed today. Most excitingly, is thought to be the oldest known example of applied geometry More video on Dr Mansfield’s international journey here: We’re the official channel of UNSW Sydney, a brilliantly located university between the coast and the cit