Before there where abaci there were counting boards which are just like abaci. A long time ago instead of making abaci they just drew the abacus in the sand. The oldest counting board is called the Salamis tablet. People think it was made around 300 B.C. and was discovered in 1899 on the island of Salamis. The abacus is still used around the world today such as in Asia, and North America.
Teachers still teach students how to use the abacus around the world today.