S2 E2 The Inca Khipu
The Inca Khipu – knotted string records of the Inca Empire. The amazingly organized Inca civilization of over 10 million people was kept running smoothly through the use of the khipu, essentially the Inca “writing” system. But sadly, the world forgot how to read them. This episode will explain what they are, what we know about them, and our most recent attempts to crack the khipu code.
[buzzsprout episode=’7607146′ player=’true’]
Show Notes
Related Book Recommendations
Related Websites
Harvard’s Khipu database complied by Gary Urton. https://khipukamayuq.fas.harvard.edu
The Khipu Field Guide by Ashok Khosla. I love this website because it presents diagrams of khipus that are easier to analyze than photos. https://khipufieldguide.com/index.html
Great Lecture Ed.
Interesting the INCA came up with a system on base 10. It was Napoleon, I believe that started the “decimal system” and metric system of measurement. As an architect I prefer the older system, still in effect in the USA, of feet and inches which are based on different segments of the human body. Same thing happened with in the Spanish system of pulgadas. cuartas, brazadas, leguas, etc.
This is a great lecture! So interesting. I’m urging all my friends to listen. Thanks for sharing your expertise!
Thanks, Ed. Fascinating as always.
Mark
Thank you for your kind reference to the Khipu Field Guide. Glad it could be of use to you.
🙂
Ashok
Thank YOU for sharing your excellent database with the world!
Unfortunately the link to the Harvard database no longer works. I wonder if you know where that data can now be found? Many thanks for such an interesting topic