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Questions and Answers
What did the 1583 Third Lima Council decree regarding khipus?
Surviving khipus were always encouraged by Spanish administrators as records of pre-colonial traditions.
False
Khipus wrapped around the waists of deceased community members are known as __________ khipus.
funerary
Match the following khipu-related terms with their descriptions:
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What factors contributed to the persistence of khipu literacy post-colonization?
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The vast majority of Inka khipus from the highlands have survived intact due to their climatic conditions.
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What was the primary purpose of khipus according to contemporary evidence found?
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What is the purpose of the kaytes in khipus?
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Early attempts to find a khipu 'alphabet' have been confirmed as highly accurate.
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Khipus were often buried with individuals without any accompanying artifacts.
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What challenge do researchers face when correlating khipus with spoken language?
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The study of khipus involves an analysis of __________ to decipher their meaning.
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What was the role of a curaca in Inka society?
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Match the following locations with their associated findings:
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Only 16 out of 650 catalogued khipus contain kaytes.
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Which of the following best describes the condition of the khipu found with the infant at Cerro Colorado?
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Most khipus found in graves have been well-documented by explorers.
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What is the significance of the standardized notation format used in khipu documentation?
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Our knowledge of Inka khipus has significantly diminished over time.
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What system do the majority of khipus conform to?
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Study Notes
The Destruction of Khipus
- Spanish authorities viewed khipus as symbols of “ancient superstitions,” prompting the destruction of some khipus in the 16th century.
- This practice was not uniformly enforced as khipus were also used in Catholic indoctrination through the 17th century.
Khipus in Post-Colonial Period
- After Peruvian independence in 1821, khipus were seen primarily in agricultural and ritual contexts.
- Modern use of khipus show a wide range of styles and construction, offering insights into past practices.
Archaeological Evidence of Khipu Use
- Archaeological specimens, chronicles, and legal records provide contemporary evidence of khipu use in the Inca era.
- Khipus are primarily found in arid coastal regions due to the deterioration of khipus in wetter climates.
- Khipus have been recovered from Inka staging facilities, such as Inkawasi.
Khipus in Funerary Contexts
- The location and association of khipus with the deceased in burial sites offer clues to their function.
- Khipus have been found associated with both individuals and collective burials.
- They are often found in close proximity to human remains, suggesting a connection to the individuals.
Khipu Decipherment Efforts
- Researchers have attempted to correlate spoken languages with khipu constructs.
- Early attempts to identify a khipu “alphabet” were largely discredited due to faulty assumptions.
- Recent studies informed by ethnography and colonial records have yielded more cautious hypotheses.
- Some khipus have been associated with syllabic pronunciations of specific communities involved in anti-colonial rebellions.
Kaytes and Khipu Typology
- Kaytes, bundles attached to the end of primary khipu cords, are hypothesized to be subject markers and indicators of khipu genre.
- The existence of kaytes on a limited number of catalogued khipus has raised questions about how subject matter was indicated in other khipus.
- Other features, such as variations in the primary cord, might have served as subject markers in different khipus.
- Statistical analyses of features like the number of mathematical relationships and the density of equations can aid in classifying and understanding different types of khipus.
Cataloguing and Digitization
- Researchers have been diligently cataloguing and digitizing Inca khipus for over a century.
- These efforts aim to create comprehensive inventories of khipus in museums and private collections.
- The process involves detailed recording of khipu features, measurements, and photographic documentation.
- Such data provides a foundation for further research and advances in khipu decipherment.
Advancements in Khipu Research
- Ongoing research continues to expand our understanding of Inca khipus.
- Collections of khipus in various cultural institutions are being documented and digitized.
- Statistical analysis and data science techniques are increasingly employed in khipu studies.
- These advancements bring us closer to reading and understanding the primary sources of the Tawantinsuyu (the Inca Empire).
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Description
This quiz explores the historical significance and varied uses of khipus throughout different periods, including their destruction by the Spanish, agricultural roles in post-colonial Peru, and archaeological evidence from the Inca era. Delve into the fascinating context of these ancient records that intertwine with cultural practices and identity.
