The mystery of the Quipos, the knotted ropes of the Incas
The Inca Empire, shrouded in mystery, continues to unveil intriguing secrets that captivate the imagination of archaeologists and scholars. One of these fascinating enigmas is represented by the Quipus (or Khipu), intricate tangles of knotted cotton cords, neatly spaced and tied to a thicker, shorter cord that serves as a support.
Quipus, found in archaeological sites in Peru, served as a tool for mathematical calculations. These cords, soaked, dried, and treated with special resins, were designed to withstand the test of time. Some Quipus have only a few cords, while others boast up to 2000 knots! The variety of colors of the knots represented numerical figures, allowing for the computation of units, tens, hundreds, and thousands.
Used in the Inca Empire for purposes ranging from accounting to record-keeping, from astronomical calculations to magical formulas, Quipus were also tools to briefly describe historical and economic events. Only the Quipucamayocs, trained in reading and creating Quipus, could interpret their messages.
Despite lingering questions, archaeologists continue to make new discoveries of Quipus, each with unique contexts, dimensions, shapes, and colors. Each finding adds information to our understanding of the sophisticated Inca society and their mastery of complex communication systems.
Incredibly, today Peruvian and Bolivian shepherds continue to use simpler versions of Quipus. The preservation of these intricate knots, buried for over 600 years, is an extraordinary testament to Inca ingenuity and their exceptional commitment to preserving cultural heritage.
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Cover image: quipu Inca. Source: Claus Ableiter / GNU Free Documentation License.
Trained at the University of Turin, where she obtained her three-year degree in Cultural Heritage Sciences and her master's degree in History of Archaeological and Historical-Artistic Heritage, she specialized at the University of Milan, graduating in Archaeological Heritage. Freelancer, she deals with computer archeology and virtual heritage, museum displays, 2D graphics and multimedia products applied to cultural heritage. Collaborates with various public and private bodies in the field of projects related to the research, enhancement, communication and promotion of cultural heritage. She deals with the creation of cultural itineraries relating to the entire Italian Peninsula and the development of content (creation of texts and photographic production) for paper and virtual publications. Her study interests include the development of new techniques and means of communication for the enhancement of cultural heritage and the evolution of the symbolism of power between the Late Antiquity and the early Middle Ages.
