Khipus

Refers to refer to recording devices used in the Inca empire and its predecessor societies in the Andean region. The term "khipu" is an orthographic rendering of the Quechua word for knot. A khipu typically consists of colored cotton (or alpaca) cords or strings with numeric values perhaps encoded by knots in the base-10 positional (decimal) system. Khipus are composed of a main, or primary, cord to which are attached a variable number of so-called pendant strings; there can be anywhere from two to almost 1500 pendant strings. Pendant strings may bear further subsidiary strings as well. On most khipus there are three types of knots. The khipu has yet to be deciphered and there are many theories as to how much information they contain. Recent theories suggest they were record keeping methods for tallying units of labor tribute, including an indication of which geographical area supplied the labor. Other researchers believe that khipus functioned not as a system of writing but as a system of mnemonics, serving as cues to Inca administrators, or that they functioned as a combination of these two forms of record keeping. Khipus were created and maintained not only by high officials at the capital of Cuzco but also by regional commanders and village headmen. After the early 16th century conquest of the Incas by the Spanish conquistadors, use of the khipu was suppressed and most were destroyed. Only about 600 Incan khipus survive today. More primitive uses of the khipu have continued in the Peruvian highlands.