Did ancient Inca communicate through knots?

Associated Press ^ | August 11, 2005 | August 11, 2005

[wallcrawlr]

WASHINGTON — Three figure-eight knots tied into strings may be the first word from the ancient Inca in centuries.

While the Incan empire left nothing that would be considered writing by today's standards, it did produce knotted strings in various colors and arrangements that have long puzzled historians and anthropologists.

Many of these strings have turned out to be a type of accounting system, but interpreting them has been complex.

Now, Gary Urton and Carrie J. Brezine of Harvard University say they have found a three-knot pattern in some of the strings, called khipu, that they believe identifies them as coming from the city of Puruchuco, about seven miles north of modern Lima, Peru.

They used computers to analyze 21 khipu found at Puruchuco and divided them into three groups based on the knot patterns. Their findings are reported in Friday's issue of the journal Science.

One group seems to be for local use and the other two groups — each with the three-knot pattern — may have been used to report local activities to higher authority, or to receive messages from those authorities. Details of the information from the local khipu was coded onto the others intended for travel.

In this case, the researchers believe they have found a place name in the three knots. "If that's the case, we should ideally be able to look around at other khipu and see if we see this arrangement,'' Urton said.

"We suggest that any khipu moving within the state administrative system having an initial arrangement of three figure-eight knots would have been immediately recognizable to Inca administrators as an account pertaining to the palace of Puruchuco,'' the researchers said.

[wallcrawlr]

Ancient accounting...I love it.

[flashbunny]

I'm a frayed knot...

[cripplecreek]

"Did ancient Inca communicate through knots?"


I'm a frayed knot.


sorry.

[cripplecreek]

Timing is everything.

[Sacajaweau]

If you don't have beads, you make knots. If you have shells available, you can push shells unto the knots. Voila-Early pop-it bead necklace!!

Just think about a pearl necklace...and the little knots.

[flashbunny]

two measly seconds...

[hophead]

"I'm a frayed knot..."
Real funny, knot!!!

[fanfan]

GGG ping?

[martin_fierro]

Three figure-eight knots tied into strings may be the first word

Spell check must've SUCKED.

[SunkenCiv]

I think the quipu/khipu was an accounting system, but it's knot up to me.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.

Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on or off the
"Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list or GGG weekly digest
-- Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)

[SunkenCiv]

Whoops. Thanks FanFan for the ping.

[SunkenCiv]

[SunkenCiv]

Possible Pattern Found in Incan Strings
By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID, AP Science Writer
Thursday, August 11, 2005
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050811/ap_on_sc/knotty_tales

[SunkenCiv]

Professor Works To Unravel Mysteries Of Khipu: Colored,
Knotted Strings Used By The Ancient Incas
Science Daily | 1-5-2004 | University At Buffalo
Posted on 01/05/2004 9:13:02 AM PST by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1051888/posts

The Monolith of Pokotia
(Sumerian Language etched on Ancient Mesopotamian Items)!
Bernardo Biadós Yacovazzo & Freddy Arce
FR Post 10-19-2002 | Bernardo Biadós Yacovazzo & Freddy Arce
Posted on 10/19/2002 10:28:48 AM PDT by vannrox
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/772170/posts

[Hegemony Cricket]

Decisions, decisions. Should I keep'em guessin'?


Or should I let 'em see the Rosetta String I found? :-)

[Spunky]

Hmmmmmm! I wonder what the meaning of this knot is?

[SunkenCiv]

· join list or digest · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post a topic · subscribe ·
	Gods Graves Glyphs	Just updating the GGG info, not sending a general distribution. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother, and Ernest_at_the_Beach
·Dogpile · Archaeologica · ArchaeoBlog · Archaeology · Biblical Archaeology Society · · Discover · Nat Geographic · Texas AM Anthro News · Yahoo Anthro & Archaeo · Google · · The Archaeology Channel · Excerpt, or Link only? · cgk's list of ping lists ·