Description
Book SynopsisThis book brings together twenty essays on diverse topics in the history and science of knots. It is divided into five parts, which deal respectively with knots in prehistory and antiquity, non-European traditions, working knots, the developing science of knots, and decorative and other aspects of knots.Its authors include archaeologists who write on knots found in digs of ancient sites (one describes the knots used by the recently discovered Ice Man); practical knotters who have studied the history and uses of knots at sea, for fishing and for various life support activities; a historian of lace; a computer scientist writing on computer classification of doilies; and mathematicians who describe the history of knot theories from the eighteenth century to the present day.In view of the explosion of mathematical theories of knots in the past decade, with consequential new and important scientific applications, this book is timely in setting down a brief, fragmentary history of mankind's oldest and most useful technical and decorative device — the knot.
Trade Review"... it is a veritable compendium of information about every aspects of knots, from their links with quantum theory to attempts to measure their strength when tying climbing ropes together ... the huge scope of this book makes it one I have turned to many times, for many different purposes."New Scientists"I enjoyed browsing through all the chapters. They contain material that a mathematician would not normally come across in his work."The Mathematical Intelligencer
Table of ContentsPart 1 Prehistory and antiquity: speculations on the first knots; about knots and swamps; ancient Egyptian rope and knots. Part 2 Non-European traditions: inuit knots; Chinese knots; the Peruvian quipus. Part 3 Working knots: rope and cordage through the ages; knots at sea; fishing knots; history of life support knots. Part 4 Towards a science of knots: studies on the behaviour of knots; topological knot theory; other knot theories. Part 5 Decorative knots and other aspects: a history of macrame; a history of lace; doilies - history and computer classification; knots in heraldry; on the true love knot. (Part contents).
