That China invented number system ("written symbols").
On showing proof of Carbon dating and Dr. Lam's book, you suddenly changed your verdict to:
-> How it is about decimal and place value, and not numerals.
That's double standards. You are clearly contradicting your own statements.
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And India had scripts way before Shang oracle script.
Here is another proof for you:
en.wikipedia.org
"Early examples of the Indus script have been found on pottery inscriptions and clay impressions of inscribed Harappan seals dating to around c. 2800–2600 BCE."
Again, 1400 years before your oracle bone scripts.
The numerals in Indus script indicates various calendar days ans gods. The same practice is still being followed by Hindus even in modern India. Those gods and corresponding days are correlated and given in a Table form. The eighth day means God
www.academia.edu
Here are the Indus Script numerals.
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As you had claimed that "numbers" and not decimals/place value was invented in China. I cited the Brahmi numerals which also has numerals. Can't you see that below table looks like numerals to you:-
See how Brahmi numerals of 1,2,3,7,9 are exactly same as Arabic numerals.
View attachment 963539
Ofcourse, the Oracle Bone script (first writing script in China) was much older (1400 BCE).
And Indus Script is even older (2700 BCE).
Even on that front (being the oldest script), you loose the argument. As Indus Scripts pre-dates Oracle Bone scripts by 1400 years.
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The fact is that this article you have shared:
Is mis-stating Lam's work.
He claims that Chinese rod system is older than Arabic numerals. And Arabic numeral system is influenced by it.
It is being portrayed as how Arabic numeral system came out of Chinese rods only in this article.
If you see the Brahmi numerals and Arabic numerals in table above, you can clearly see the similarities.