Quipus

Quipus are recording devices historically used by the Inca civilization and its predecessors in the Andean region of South America. They consist of colored, spun, and dyed wool or cotton strings, from which subsidiary cords hang. The Inca used quipus to collect and transmit information through a system of knots, string colors, and cord arrangements. The exact nature of this system is still debated by scholars, but it is widely believed to have encoded numerical data, such as census figures, tax records, and calendar information. Some researchers also propose that quipus may have recorded historical narratives or other forms of non-numerical information, though this remains a more speculative theory.

The construction of a quipu involves a main cord, from which numerous pendant cords are suspended. Knots are tied at various positions along these pendant cords. The type of knot, its position on the cord, and the color of the cord itself all contributed to the meaning of the data. For example, different knots might represent different numerical values, and the colors of the strings could have signified specific categories of information, such as people, animals, or commodities. The complexity and diversity of quipus suggest a sophisticated system of information management that was crucial to the administration of the vast Inca Empire. Surviving quipus are housed in various museums and collections around the world, continuing to be a subject of ongoing research and interpretation.