Archaeology Term: Quipu
Quipu was an ancient Inca system of knotted cords used for record-keeping, accounting, and communication. This innovative method allowed the Incas to store and convey large amounts of information without the use of a written language.
A quipu typically consisted of a main cord with several hanging cords attached to it, each containing knots that varied in type, placement, and number. The knots represented numerical values, and their arrangement conveyed specific data, such as quantities of goods or events in time.
Quipu were crucial for the administration of the Inca Empire, which was vast and complex. The knots on the cords were carefully tied to record census data, tribute payments, military organization, and even agricultural production.
The color of the cords and the position of the knots also carried meaning. Different colors often represented different categories of information, such as taxes, resources, or territories, while the size and tightness of the knots indicated numerical values.
Though quipu were primarily used for accounting, they also played a role in communication. In some cases, they were used to transmit messages across the empire, with skilled 'quipucamayocs' (specialists in quipu) interpreting and reading the cords.
Unlike written scripts, quipu was a non-phonetic system, meaning it did not represent sounds or words directly. Instead, it was a form of symbolic and numeric coding, and its interpretation required knowledge of both the system and its context.
The decline of the Inca Empire and the Spanish conquest led to the loss of many quipu records and the near extinction of the knowledge needed to read them. However, some quipu have been preserved and studied by modern scholars, offering valuable insights into Inca society, economy, and administration.
In conclusion, quipu was an intricate system of knotted cords used by the Incas for record-keeping and communication. It played a vital role in the efficient governance and organization of the Inca Empire, providing an alternative to written language in an ancient society.
