Numbers on the Visigothic Slates: A Cognitive Approach.

Abstract

Numerical notation found on multiple slates from Early Medieval Visigothic Iberia remains undeciphered. Previous studies have proposed that they simply represent Roman numerals. However, the comparative study of the numbers on the written and numerical slates suggests that they do not in fact represent the same graphic code. This paper analyzes the use of the numbers on these slates through the lens of human cognitive architecture and cognitive extension. The results of the study suggest that the Roman numerals on the written slates coexist alongside the notational system used on the numerical slates rather than that both types belonging to the same system. Whereas written slates worked as asynchronous code to facilitate dual communication, numerical slates could be used as a memory aid to assist with individual cognition. These results shed important light on who was using numerals in early medieval Iberia and for what purposes.