Quipu

Quipu (Spanish ) or Khipu ( Quechua: " node " ) is the name of the unique, built in the decimal place value system node font of South American Indians from about 2500 BC to the Incan (ca. 1400-1532 AD ) in Altperu before the conquest of their empire by the Spaniards, which results from a numerical method for accounting for a full font ( questionable ) developed. From residents, soldiers, animals, lands on Stockpiles to historical events ( battles ), could all be included in the statistics using the Quipu. Each Quipu however, had to be passed with a verbal comment. A quipu specialist ( khipu kamayuq ) tied the knot and read the details of the cords of the Quipu interpreters. In 2005, Ruth Shady discovered in Peru the same node system, but in the ruins of America's oldest civilization: Caral. The emergence of this system thus could be, in spite of differences of opinion with regard to the lower complexity of the find, dating to approximately 2627-2100 BC, so it is about 4100-4800 years old.

Construction

At one to four meters long main thread color graded reinforcing threads are attached, which are provided with ten different types of nodes. Predominant were the multiple overhand knot, the overhand knot made ​​of the Franciscan node and the figure eight knot. Depending on the vertical and horizontal position in this curtain-like fabric, thread color and length and the type of node this node have different meanings.

The Inca used a decimal place value system with a precursor of the number zero: Had the thread a place no value, so there was no nodes. Up to the number 10000, the representation was possible. The Quipus were mainly used in the distribution system (re- distribution system ) of the Inca. It is considered to be relatively certain that they used the Quipus for stock lists and stock inventory. Furthermore, it probably needs the position, the texture and color of the Quipus be noted with the information the reader should be taught. Before knotting the exact length was estimated. Several threads were turned several times to a string. Individual filaments were made of plant fibers or (human) hair, some of wool, mostly from cotton. A string found in a grave weighs nearly 4 kg. To fix the color, alum or iron salts are used as a mordant for example. However, this destroys the passage of time colors.

According to the latest findings, the Quipus to have been used for the tax bill. Thereafter, each level corresponding to the above parent county. One can then read off the control sum of the underlying districts.

Most Quipus were destroyed by the Spanish conquerors in the 16th century. In 1981 there were about 400 known until 2004, around 800 Quipus have been found worldwide. The Ethnological Museum Berlin has 289 and making it the largest collection of its kind you all come more or less from the 15th and 16th centuries. However, as no Quipus in Cuzco or any other part of the highlands have been found as well, almost all finds come from the coast. However, this may have been due primarily to the climatic conditions that favored the conservation in the end.

It should also Quipus from the Middle Horizon enter (about 800 AD), which differ in that no nodes linked, but with colorful threads colored wraps were made. The assumption is that it is the precursor of the Inca Quipus, so they would not originally come from the Inca. In the Ethnological Museum in Berlin, however, is none of it exists.

Furthermore it has the Berlin collection a fake from the 18th century. It is colorful and shaggy and the threads hanging out with their unprofessional nodes on a small road down. Since this forgery came first in the Ethnological Museum in Berlin, it was thought originally that this was a real Quipu and all others that followed afterwards, were forgeries.

The node font is regarded as a basic model that the origins of writing has developed from the accounting or bookkeeping ancient cultures, as well as the Mesopotamian cuneiform.

Franciscan node as a triple overhand knot, back (top) and preparation route ( below)

Quintuple overhand knot, which was drawn, without putting the rope in turns. In Quipu used to display the number 5.

Science

• Gary Urton (* 1946) is an anthropologist at Harvard University in Boston and an authority on Khipu.