Quipu

A quipu (/ˈkiːpuː/ KEE-poo), also spelled khipu, is a special way of keeping records using knotted cords. It was used by people in the central Andes of South America, especially by the powerful Inca Empire. These cords were usually made from cotton or camelid fiber and had knots tied in them to show numbers and other important information.

The Inca tied knots in a special way, using a decimal positional system. This means they could show big numbers by grouping smaller ones together, much like how we use the numbers 0–9 and then move to tens, hundreds, and so on. Depending on what they needed to record, a quipu could have just a few cords or thousands of them!

Quipus were very important for the Inca. They used them to keep track of many things, like taxes people owed, how many people lived in a place (census), and even to help plan events and organize their army. Even though many quipus were lost or destroyed after the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire, some still exist today and help us learn about the amazing Inca civilization.

Etymology

The word quipu means 'knot' in Quechua. The words quipu and khipu are ways to spell the same word. Quipu is the traditional spelling from Spanish orthography. Khipu is based on the Quechuan and Aymaran spelling shift. Khipu comes from Cusco Quechua, and many other Quechua languages use the term kipu. The spelling quipu is used most often in Spanish and English because of hispanicized rules.

Purpose

Quipus were special tools made from knotted strings. The Inca and other people in the Andes Mountains of South America used them. These tools helped record important information, like numbers and maybe even stories. They did this by using knots in different colors, sizes, and positions.

Special people called quipucamayocs kept these records. They could tell important details from the knots, such as how many people lived in a place or what goods were owed. Even after the Spanish arrived, these records were sometimes used in courts to solve problems. Some researchers think the knots might have also recorded words or ideas, but this is still being studied. One big discovery links a set of quipus to an old Spanish document, which could help experts understand these ancient tools better.

History

The history of quipus starts around 3000–1800 BCE at Caral, but this is not fully proven. Clear evidence comes from the Middle Horizon (around 600–1000 CE), used by the Wari Empire. These early quipus were small and had colorful threads with knots that scholars are still learning about.

During the Inca Empire, special people called quipucamayocs made and read quipus. They helped with simple math and kept records of things like taxes, work, and the census. Even after the Spanish arrived in 1532, some quipus remained. Today, quipus are still valued in some villages in Peru, where they are used in ceremonies and as symbols of tradition and history.

Collections and number of quipus

The total number of quipus, which are ancient tools made of knotted cords, is not known. These quipus can be found all over the world, from Europe to North and South America. Many are kept in museums far from where they were made, while some stay in their native lands, cared for by descendants of the people who created them.

According to archaeologist Gary Urton, there are about 600 quipus in collections around the world. The Khipu Database Project, started by Urton and Carrie Brezine with support from Harvard University and the National Science Foundation, aims to gather information about known quipus. As of January 2026, this project records 702 quipus with public data.

Preservation

Quipus are made from fibers such as wool or hair from animals like alpacas, llamas, guanacos, or vicuñas, and sometimes from cotton. These knotted strings were dyed in different colors to help record information.

To keep quipus safe, they are stored in cool, dry, and dark places. Museums and special collections have rules to protect these old items.

Quipus are stored carefully to stop damage from light, humidity, and handling. They are checked for mold and insects, and special ways are used to clean and fix them without hurting them. Some quipus are very delicate, while others are still strong enough to study.

In popular culture

Film and television

Some TV shows and movies have used quipus in fun ways. In Kamen Rider Amazon, a quipu is important in one episode. The Mysterious Cities of Gold shows a character who can read and make quipus. In Earth: Final Conflict, a quipu and the Nazca Lines are part of the story. Da Vinci's Demons uses a quipu to give characters new orders. Dora and the Lost City of Gold has Dora feeling a stone quipu to find treasure. The series See uses knotted strings for communication. Futurama has Bender getting a quipu from his grandmother. Paddington in Peru uses a quipu to guide to El Dorado, and Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado has characters interpreting quipus. On Jeopardy!, there was a question about quipus in 2026.

Literature

Books have also included quipus. In The Wine-Dark Sea by Patrick O’Brian, a quipu carries an important message. The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. by Neal Stephenson and Nicole Galland uses quipus for time travel. This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone hides a letter as a “knot code.” Ammonite by Nicola Griffith uses knotted cords for sending messages. Catalina by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio has researchers decoding quipus, and The Bedlam Stacks by Natasha Pulley uses quipus to leave messages between characters.

Games

Quipus appear in some games. In Death Stranding, a character wears a quipu necklace, and there is a quipu-inspired device called the Q-Pid. Magic: The Gathering has a card called “Braided Quipu.” Catan - Rise of the Inkas uses quipu designs in its artwork.