January 5, 2016

Inca Khipus Translation Breakthrough

Researchers have found a storage house for agricultural products 100 miles south of Lima at the Inca site of Incahuasi. They kept records on peanuts, chilis, beans, corn etc. there. Khipus were found under the produce, preserved in the dry desert climate. The Khipus are made of cotton or wool strings with knots, and they are dyed different colors. With this new discovery, which is the first time Khipus have been found with produce like this, it may allow the researchers to identify colors and knots related to each product, thus begin to translate khipus. The site was a place where llama caravans with farm produce would have been going through. The food was probably for Inca armies invading southward. More could be found at the site, but money for further research has run out there.

The NY Times has the report here;
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/01/03/world/americas/untangling-an-accounting-tool-and-an-ancient-incan-mystery.html

Mike Ruggeri’s Ancient Andean World
http://bit.ly/VD1spm