Números y universo arhuaco

Abstract

This work presents the investigation about the symbolic representation of the numbering system of the arhuaco culture of the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta and the significance of numbers for this community; it also establishes similarities and differences with the decimal system that is imposed today on "big brothers". It is essential to know how they use their indigenous numbering system in their traditional practices. For Arhuacos, numbers influenced the creation of the universe and its conservation, and they represent the origin of beings. There are sacred numbers such as one, two, four and nine. The number four is fundamental in their traditional practices, it represents the four elements of nature. Nine represents the balance with the universe. The numbers express order, cohesion, conceptions of space, the environment, a holistic view of their universe, and their law of origin. They don’t have symbolic representation; they have some figures associated with numbers; this system lacks zero, because from their worldview, the concepts of nothing and empty don’t exist. Knowledge is transmitted orally from generation to generation, through their diverse cultural activities. The use of the numbering system in traditional practices has achieved its importance to our time, but is little known, due to poor work done on their mathematical knowledge. The system is positional with a decimal base, is cardinal, and systematized in Ikᵾ.