On the exhibition wall, there is a reconstruction of a quipu, the numerical system used by the Incas in the 16th century. A quipu consists of knots on cords, which represent numbers. To represent a number, separate knots are used to indicate thousands, hundreds, tens, and units. The system works by wrapping a cord around the main axis of the rope as many times as needed to convey a specific number. For example, to represent 200, two wraps are made for the hundreds, and for 30, three wraps for the tens, and so on.
The quipu served as an inspiration for the creators of knot writing systems.
A reconstruction of the quipu system
On the exhibition wall, there is a reconstruction of a quipu, the numerical system used by the Incas in the 16th century. A quipu consists of knots on cords, which represent numbers. To represent a number, separate knots are used to indicate thousands, hundreds, tens, and units. The system works by wrapping a cord around the main axis of the rope as many times as needed to convey a specific number. For example, to represent 200, two wraps are made for the hundreds, and for 30, three wraps for the tens, and so on.
The quipu served as an inspiration for the creators of knot writing systems.