El enigma de los Quipus ¿Qué ocultan los nudos andinos?

Summary

The video explores the enigmatic Kipu system used by the Inca civilization, suggesting it was more than just a tool for accounting. The Kipu, consisting of knots on strings, may have served as a form of complex information encoding, possibly evolving into a full writing system. Researchers continue to debate its use for recording historical events and language, though most surviving examples follow an accounting pattern. Despite its decline after the Spanish conquest, the Kipu remains a symbol of Andean culture and a potential key to unlocking the secrets of Incan history and worldview.

Takeaways

• 😀 The quipu system was more than just a tool for accounting; it might have been an early form of writing or was evolving into one.
• 😀 Researchers believe that the quipu allowed for millions of possible combinations through the use of colors, knot types, and positioning.
• 😀 Some theories suggest that quipus were alphanumeric, with knots representing consonants in Quechua and colors adding extra meaning.
• 😀 Another theory posits that quipus used numeric codes to represent objects, places, and names.
• 😀 While most quipus are used for accounting, around 15% display patterns that could potentially indicate a form of writing.
• 😀 A major goal of modern research is to find a 'quipu rosetta' to decipher the quipu language and better understand its meaning.
• 😀 Spanish colonizers relied on quipukamayocs (quipu readers) to interpret quipus, highlighting the complexity and importance of these systems.
• 😀 Over time, as Spanish rule became dominant, the quipu system fell into disuse, replaced by Latin writing and numeration.
• 😀 The decline of quipus led to the loss of knowledge about how to read and interpret them, and many remain undeciphered today.
• 😀 Quipus were mnemonic devices, relying on oral messages for full context, which are now lost, further complicating efforts to decode them.
• 😀 Despite their decline, modern Andean communities still use quipus for symbolic, ritual, and even practical purposes like livestock record-keeping.

Q & A

What was the main purpose of the Kipus in Inca society?

The main purpose of the Kipus was to serve as a tool for accounting and the administration of the Inca Empire. However, there are theories suggesting that Kipus may have also been used for recording historical events and transmitting complex information.

Why do some researchers believe Kipus were more than just accounting tools?

Researchers believe Kipus might have been more than just accounting tools because the variety of knots, colors, and positions of the strings could potentially allow for more complex communication, resembling a full-fledged writing system.

What is one of the key theories about how Kipus functioned?

One key theory proposed by William Barns Gleen suggests that the knots on the Kipus represented consonants in the Quechua language, while the colors of the strings completed the message, essentially forming an alphanumeric system.

What percentage of Kipus analyzed are related to accounting, and how does this affect understanding of their broader purpose?

Approximately 85% of the Kipus analyzed so far are related to accounting, which suggests that, while Kipus were primarily used for administrative purposes, a smaller portion may have served more complex functions like historical record-keeping or as a code system.

What is the significance of the 'Kipu Rosetta' that researchers are seeking?

The 'Kipu Rosetta' refers to a theoretical key that would help researchers decode the language of the Kipus, much like the Rosetta Stone helped decipher Egyptian hieroglyphs. Finding such a key would be crucial for understanding the full range of information encoded in Kipus.

Why did the Spanish eventually stop using Kipus, and how did this affect the Inca's administrative system?

The Spanish abandoned the use of Kipus because they lacked the ability to read or use them, which made them dependent on the Kipukamayoks (experts in interpreting Kipus). As the Spanish consolidated their control, they replaced Kipus with Latin writing and numeration, leading to the gradual disappearance of the Kipus.

What role did Kipukamayoks play in Inca society?

Kipukamayoks were experts who could read and interpret the Kipus. They were crucial in translating the information encoded in the Kipus to the Spanish authorities during the colonial period, but their knowledge of the system was gradually lost as the Spanish replaced Kipus with written records.

What happened to the knowledge of reading and interpreting Kipus over time?

As the Spanish replaced Kipus with Latin writing, the knowledge of how to read and interpret Kipus was lost. Today, no one fully understands the system, and the meanings behind many of the Kipus remain a mystery.

What are some modern uses of Kipus today?

Today, Kipus are still used in some Andean communities, primarily for symbolic or ritualistic purposes. They are also employed by shepherds in certain regions to track the number of livestock, though these modern versions differ from the original Inca Kipus.

What challenges do researchers face in attempting to decode the Kipus?

The main challenge in decoding Kipus lies in the loss of the oral information that originally accompanied them. Since Kipus were meant to be read alongside verbal messages stored in the memories of Kipukamayoks, the lack of this complementary oral knowledge makes it difficult for researchers to fully understand their meaning.