ARH309H1 Chapter : ROM Archaeology Day - Quipu Notes
Document Summary
Knotted string instrument used for record keeping in the inca empire. Early reports of encounters with inca record keepers tell of old men carrying bundles of strings with which they recounted information of all kinds pertaining to the andean past: e. g. , census figures, royal achievements, etc. Quipu made of knotted, colourful strings made of spun and plied camelid hair or cotton fibre. Used to retain different types of administrative records and for registering information for storytelling. Quipu is composed of differing numbers of spun and twisted threads = pendant cords/strings. They are attached by means of half-hitch knots to a thicker cord = primary cord. Average thickness of primary cord is 0. 26 cm, average length 61 cm. Average number of pendant cords is 60, median number per device is 27. Average length of pendant strings is 33 cm and average thickness is 0. 16 cm.
