New Details Emerge About Ancient Inca Counting Technology

The study provides new insights into the Inca's advanced counting technology, known as khipus. Khipus were intricate systems of colored cords and knots used to record information, challenging the long-held belief that they were merely mnemonic devices. The research indicates that khipus were complex accounting tools, capable of recording numerical data and potentially even narrative information. The study analyzed a collection of khipus from the Inca capital of Cusco, revealing that they were used to track resources, taxes, and other administrative information. The researchers found that the khipus employed a base-10 numerical system, similar to the one used in modern decimal systems. This suggests a more sophisticated understanding of mathematics and record-keeping than previously believed. The findings shed new light on the Inca's advanced administrative capabilities and challenge the colonial-era sources that have long shaped our understanding of these intricate record-keeping systems. The study highlights the need for a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of Inca culture and its technological achievements.