Quipu

A quipu (/ˈkiːpuː/ KEE-poo), also spelled khipu, is a special way of keeping records using knotted cords. It was used by people living 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 comes from a Quechua word meaning 'knot'. The terms quipu and khipu are different ways to spell the same word. Quipu is the traditional spelling based on the Spanish orthography, while khipu reflects the Quechuan and Aymaran spelling shift. Khipu comes from Cusco Quechua, and many other Quechua varieties use the term kipu. The hispanicized spelling of quipu is the form most commonly used in both Spanish and English.

Purpose

Quipus were special tools made from knotted strings used by the Inca and other people in the Andes Mountains of South America. These tools helped record important information, like numbers and maybe even stories, 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 begins with early claims from the site of Caral around 3000–1800 BCE, though these are not fully confirmed. More certain evidence appears from the Middle Horizon (around 600–1000 CE), used by the Wari Empire. These early quipus were smaller and had colorful threads with knots that scholars are still trying to understand.

During the time of the Inca Empire, special people called quipucamayocs were in charge of creating and reading quipus. They could do basic math and kept track of things like taxes, labor, and the census. Even after the Spanish arrived in 1532, some quipus survived. Today, quipus are still important 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 recording 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 originally made, while some remain 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. A survey in 2021 estimates that nearly 1,400 pre-Columbian quipus still exist today.

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 various colors, which helped in recording information. Preserving quipus involves keeping them in cool, dry, and dark places to prevent damage. Museums and special collections follow strict guidelines to protect these ancient items.

Quipus are carefully stored to avoid damage from light, humidity, and handling. They are monitored for mold and insects, and special techniques are used to clean and repair them without causing harm. Some quipus are very fragile, while others remain durable enough for study.

In popular culture

Film and television

Several TV shows and movies have featured quipus in interesting ways. In Kamen Rider Amazon, a quipu is a key item in one of the episodes. The Mysterious Cities of Gold shows a character who can read and create quipus. In Earth: Final Conflict, a quipu and the Nazca Lines help drive part of the story. Da Vinci's Demons uses a quipu to give new orders to characters. 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 features 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!, a question about quipus appeared in 2026.

Literature

Books have also included quipus in their stories. 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 a few games too. In Death Stranding, a character wears a quipu necklace, and a quipu-inspired device called the Q-Pid is used. Magic: The Gathering has a card called "Braided Quipu." Catan - Rise of the Inkas uses quipu designs in its artwork.