> What you're missing is that positional numeral systems developed relatively late--in recorded history,
Mesoamericans were carving base-20 long count dates at least as early as they were writing words, actually. The oldest complete date is 36 BCE. This was a true number system, including a glyph for zero.
We're still talking ~2,000 years ago, which I consider recorded history (basically, the distinction between history and prehistory is roughly ~6,000 years ago). Certainly much, much newer than language.
It sounds like pedantry, but it's important: history can't be recorded if there isn't any recording being done. Again, current evidence has the long count preceeding written language in Mesoamerica. That time frame only works for the mesopotamian and nile river civilizations.
While we’re at it, the (positional) Mesopotamian sexagesimal system evolved around 2000 BC, and had a placeholder “zero” symbol for empty places sometime before 0 AD.
Mesoamericans were carving base-20 long count dates at least as early as they were writing words, actually. The oldest complete date is 36 BCE. This was a true number system, including a glyph for zero.