The SAW project is dedicated to mathematical sources that have come down to us from the ancient world, specifically, though not exclusively, to the sources produced in Mesopotamia, China, and the Indian sub-continent.

The ambition of SAW is to develop new theoretical approaches to the history of ancient mathematics, in order to highlight a variety of practices in the fields that today too often are presented as homogeneous whole, that is, ‘Mesopotamian mathematics’, ‘Chinese mathematics’, and ‘Indian mathematics’. To this end, SAW intends to concentrate on the mathematical sources related to two activities: astral sciences and state administrations in charge of financial matters. The goal is to create resources that would promote a new historical representation of mathematics.

The wider impact of the project is to define an alternative to the widespread vision of mathematics. The outcome of the research will be made available to school teachers and thus will contribute to bridge the gap between the young people and mathematical sciences.