When we talk about technological tools, many people may think that we are referring to complicated machines, intelligent devices, or any other artifact that we are used to today. In pre-Hispanic America, the most advanced civilizations on the continent had extremely complex, practical, and compelling technological tools. One of them was the quipu used by the Incas.
What is a quipu?
The quipu, which in Quechua, the official language of the Incas, means the knot, consists of a certain number of ropes of different colors and knots that were used for efficient and specific purposes.
In general, it consists of a central horizontal rope, from which several ropes of different colors are in a vertical position, with knots of various shapes according to very complex established patterns. These ropes were made with cotton fibers or the fur of some animals, such as guanacos, llamas, vicuñas, and alpacas.
What are quipus used for?
This is a system that the administration of the Inca Empire used to record accounting information. The distance between the knots and the colors of the strings allowed precise information to be obtained about each registered population and the objects being recorded.
Based on decimal order, up to tens of thousands of units could be recorded. This allowed us to distinguish whether they referred to women or men, to a specific population, and to the type of productive activity.
The quipu and its history
The origin of the quipu dates to ancient Peru, back to the middle of the first millennium of the Christian era. For a long time, it was believed that the quipu was created by the amauta (wise man and teacher) Illac in the days when Mayta Capac governed the Inca Empire in the 14th century of our era.
What is certain is that this pre-Inca invention was taken and perfected by the Incas. Some sources from scholars of pre-Hispanic populations in America indicate the possibility that it was already used around 2,500 years before Christ.
But the most consistent evidence of its origin and use was during the Huari or Wari empire, whose center was in the city of Huari, which is now part of Peruvian territory.
›› Read More: The Language of the Incas
How is a quipu interpreted?
Scholars' rigorous research on the Inca civilization managed to reconstruct the content of the quipus's coding. The direction and location of the knots, according to their twist and the colors of the strings, constitute the main element for their interpretation.
The strings to record figures had a knot and a specific location in accordance with the hierarchical order of the production units according to the region of the Inca empire. At the end of each string, the quantities were recorded by knots, and even from zero, so that large numbers could be represented on said strings.
This series of knots was also given information about the color, width, length, and distance between knots and strings. The reading was done from right to left of the main string. The position and number of knots gave the information in quantitative terms, and, in turn, the colors indicated the type of object that was represented.
It is a fairly complex but exact and useful system that was only handled by people who specialized in making and using it to improve the empire's administrative functioning.
Quipucamayoc: the expert reader of the quipus
These instruments with an alphanumeric code were made and handled by specialists or quipucamayos in Quechua. They were the administrators of the Inca empire, and they were only able to decipher them and be authorized to enunciate their contents.
Where to find Quipus in Peru?
If you’re fascinated by Peruvian history, you can find quipus and other Inca artifacts in museums across Peru. But it doesn’t stop there—quipus also pop up as decorations in craft markets, alpaca shops, and even private collections. They make for unique decor; some hotels even showcase them, and you can take a piece of this ancient tradition home with you!
Here are some museums worth visiting:
- Cusco: Museo Inca
- Lima: Museo Larco, Museo Nacional de Arqueología, Antropología e Historia del Perú, Museo Temple Radicati
Quipus FAQs
Did all quipus record only numbers?
Not exactly. The main purpose of quipus was to record quantities using a decimal system. However, combinations of dyed colors, fiber types, the direction in which each cord was twisted, and the position and grouping of the cords appear to have stored administrative information, place names, product categories, and even stories.
Today, one of the greatest challenges is that specialists can identify patterns, quantities, and other distinctive features, but only a limited number of original quipus have survived.
Why have quipus not been fully deciphered?
The main difficulty is that no bilingual guide has survived to connect each combination of knots with known words or concepts. In addition, many quipus were removed over time from the places and contexts in which they were originally created.
Much of the linguistic background needed to interpret them has also been lost, including ancient terms from Quechua, Aymara, and possibly Puquina. These languages were spoken during the Inca period and have continued to change over the centuries.
Did colors have the same meaning in every quipu?
There is no evidence that a single color code was used throughout the entire Tahuantinsuyo. Colors probably helped organize information, but their meaning may have varied depending on the region, institution, recorded activity, or the specific group of cords.
For example, the same color might have represented corn in an agricultural record but served a different purpose in a census. Interpretation is also more difficult because many quipus have lost some of their original color over time. In addition, no complete record remains of the wide range of colors used during the Inca period.
How many original quipus still exist today?
UNESCO has documented an inventory of 923 quipus held in collections across South America, North America, and Europe. Of these, 544 were added to a specialized database, and 88 are displayed in museums. This figure reflects the documented inventory and may not be final, as uncatalogued pieces could still be discovered.
Are quipus still used in some Andean communities?
Some communities preserve quipus as symbols of collective memory and authority. One example is San Andrés de Tupicocha, where they remain part of community traditions and ceremonial practices connected with local positions of responsibility.
Although their modern role does not exactly reproduce how they were used during the Inca period, it represents a reinterpretation that has helped preserve and revitalize this cultural tradition after the destruction caused by the Spanish conquest.
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