We turned to academic and science writer Robert Matthews because he claims to have gathered the most amount of research and background on this topic. Matthews points to evidence of knots being tied as long ago as 8000 BC.It’s anybody’s guess how the precious relic that proves Matthews’ theory survived time and the environment, but a fishing net of primitive knots found in Finland in 1913 has been authenticated as belonging to that era, thus 8000 BC is currently acknowledged as the genesis of knots.You can thank mathematicians for sorting out the chaos by creating the first knot classification scale based on prime numbers and closely analysing the many types of knots that have been invented over time. Some are unique and have never been tinkered with. Others are classified as copycats, knots in disguise or re-purposed knots that use a basic knot as a foundation for a more complicated one.While some folks obsessed with the topic of knots have attempted to set up classifications, we’re still looking for a single resource that accounts for every knotting style on the planet. This Best of Infographics website page covers the topic adequately, but we won’t swear this information is comprehensive, just a darn good attempt.