Kipumittari

Kipumittari, also known as the kipu, is an ancient recording device used by the Inca Empire in South America. It is a complex system of knots tied on cords, which were used to record numerical and other types of information. The kipu was a crucial tool for the Inca, serving various administrative, economic, and religious purposes.

The kipu consists of a main cord with secondary cords attached to it. Each secondary cord has a series of knots that represent different types of data. The number of knots, their position, and the color of the cord can all convey specific information. For example, the number of knots might represent a quantity, such as the number of people or goods, while the position of the knots could indicate a specific location or time period.

The kipu was used for a wide range of purposes, including tax collection, census, accounting, and religious ceremonies. It was also used to record historical events and genealogies. The Inca believed that the kipu held sacred knowledge and was a direct connection to the divine.

The kipu system was highly sophisticated and allowed for the efficient recording and retrieval of large amounts of information. It was a testament to the Inca's advanced understanding of mathematics and their ability to create complex recording systems. Despite the Spanish conquest and the subsequent decline of the Inca Empire, the kipu system was preserved and continues to be studied by historians and anthropologists today.