A global cross-cultural analysis of string figures reveals evidence of deep transmission and innovation

Few cultural practices beyond language are as widespread as string
figure games. Their global distribution and potential to yield insights
into cultural transmission and cognition have long been noted. Yet, it
remains unknown how or when this behaviour originated and to what
extent shared motifs are signals of repeated innovations or deep cultural
transmission. Here, we combined a global cross-cultural inventory of
string figures with a novel methodology based on knot theory, which
enables the unequivocal numerical coding of string figures. We performed
a computational analysis of a sample of 826 figures from 92 societies
around the world. Across these societies, we found 83 recurring string
figure designs, some of which are regionally restricted while others display
a global distribution. The cognitively opaque nature of string figure
designs and their clear geographic distribution reveal processes of cultural
transmission, innovation, and convergent evolution. Most strikingly, the
global distribution of some figures raises the possibility of shared ancient
origins.