quipu

Examples of quipu in the following topics:

• The Caral Civilization

  • This peaceful, urban center yielded several major discoveries, including a method of keeping records known as quipu.
  • One of the artifacts found at Caral is a knotted textile piece named a quipu, which archaeologists believe was a method of keeping records.

• Administration of the Inca Empire

  • Quipus (also spelled khipus) are colorful bunches of knotted strings that recorded census data, taxes, calendrical information, military organization, and accounting information.
  • The Spanish burned the vast majority of existing quipus when they arrived in South America.