Abstract
AbstractAccounts from the Spanish chronicles regarding Inka record-keeping practices by means of the knotted string devices called khipu (“knot”) indicate that these accounts were compiled in a system of “checks and balances.” Each community in the empire had a minimum of four khipu accountants, all of whom are said by the chronicler Garcilaso de la Vega to have kept the same records. This study examines several examples of matching khipu accounts identified among sets of two or three khipu. The identification of matching khipu accounts has been facilitated by the recent development of a khipu database at Harvard University. It is argued that certain three-term numerical sequences recorded in one set of three matching khipu from Chachapoyas, northern Peru, represent a type of numerical signifier that may have served as identity labels of the information recorded in this set of khipu. The long-range objective of this research is to investigate the information recorded on khipu from various provenience zones around the former Inka Empire that may represent the remains of khipu archives.
Highlights
Accountsfrom the SpanishchroniclesregardingInkarecord-keepingpractices bymeansof the knottedstringdevices called khipu("knot") indicate that these accounts were compiled in a system of "checksand balances." Each communityin the empirehad a minimumoffour khipuaccountants,all of whomare said by the chroniclerGarcilaso de la Vegato have kept the same records
This studyexaminesseveral examplesof matchingkhipuaccounts identifiedamong sets of two or three khipu.Theidentificationof matchingkhipuaccounts has beenfacilitated by the recentdevelopmentof a khipudatabase at Harvard University.It is arguedthat certain three-termnumericalsequences recordedin one set of threematchingkhipu from Chachapoyas, northernPeru, representa type of numerical signifier that may have served as identitylabels of the informationrecordedin thisset of khipu.Thelong-rangeobjectiveof this researchis to investigatethe informationrecorded on khipufrom variousproveniencezones aroundtheformer InkaEmpirethatmay representthe remainsof khipuarchives
Thanks to Luis Felipe Villacorta for his help, encouragement, and immense good will in supportof my researchin Lima,Peru
Summary
KHIPU ARCHIVES: DUPLICATE ACCOUNTS AND IDENTITY LABELS IN THE INKA KNOTTED STRING RECORDS
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