Kipuista
Kipuista is a term used in contemporary discussions to refer to people who study, interpret, or reproduce kipu, the knotted-string recording devices of the Andean civilizations, particularly the Inca. The kipu (also spelled quipu) are made of cords with knots arranged in patterns that scholars believe served as mnemonic aids and accounting tools. While the basic concept is well established, the full reading of many kipu patterns—including potential non-numeric information—remains an active area of research.
Etymology and scope. The word kipu comes from the Quechua language, and the suffix -ista is a
Activities and methods. A kipuista may engage in knot-by-knot analysis, cataloging cord types, colors, and arrangements
Significance and challenges. Kipus are central to understandings of Andean administration and record-keeping. However, decoding remains