Narrative Threads: Accounting and Recounting in Andean Khipu (Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Series in Latin American and Latino Art and Culture)

The Inka Empire stretched over much of the length and breadth of the South American Andes, encompassed elaborately planned cities linked by a complex network of roads and messengers, and created astonishing works of architecture and artistry and a compelling mythology—all without the aid of a graphic writing system. Instead, the Inkas' records consisted of devices made of knotted and dyed strings—called khipu—on which they recorded information pertaining to the organization and history of their empire. Despite more than a century of research on these remarkable devices, the khipu remain largely undeciphered.In this benchmark book, twelve international scholars tackle the most vexed question in khipu studies: how did the Inkas record and transmit narrative records by means of knotted strings? The authors approach the problem from a variety of angles. Several essays mine Spanish colonial sources for details about the kinds of narrative encoded in the khipu. Others look at the uses to which khipu were put before and after the Conquest, as well as their current use in some contemporary Andean communities. Still others analyze the formal characteristics of khipu and seek to explain how they encode various kinds of numerical and narrative data. A veritable encyclopedia of the khipu, this volume pulls together new and groundbreaking work by the foremost experts, attacking the problem from a wide variety of perspectives and integrating analysis from historical, archaeological, and ethnographic perspectives."--Thomas A. Abercrombie, Associate Professor of Anthropology, New York University The Inka Empire stretched over much of the length and breadth of the South American Andes, encompassed elaborately planned cities linked by a complex network of roads and messengers, and created astonishing works of architecture and artistry and a compelling mythology--all without the aid of a graphic writing system. Instead, the Inkas' records consisted of devices made of knotted and dyed strings--called khipu--on which they recorded information pertaining to the organization and history of their empire. Despite more than a century of research on these remarkable devices, the khipu remain largely undeciphered. In this benchmark book, thirteen international scholars tackle the most vexed question in khipu studies: how did the Inkas record and transmit narrative records by means of knotted strings? The authors approach the problem from a variety of angles. Several essays mine Spanish colonial sources for details about the kinds of narrative encoded in the khipu. Others look at the uses to which khipu were put before and after the Conquest, as well as their current use in some contemporary Andean communities. Still others analyze the formal characteristics of khipu and seek to explain how they encode various kinds of numerical and narrative data

the Inka Empire Stretched Over Much Of The Length And Breadth Of The South American Andes, Encompassed Elaborately Planned Cities Linked By A Complex Network Of Roads And Messengers, And Created Astonishing Works Of Architecture And Artistry And A Compelling Mythology--all Without The Aid Of A Graphic Writing System. Instead, The Inkas' Records Consisted Of Devices Made Of Knotted And Dyed Strings--called Khipu--on Which They Recorded Information Pertaining To The Organization And History Of Their Empire. Despite More Than A Century Of Research On These Remarkable Devices, The Khipu Remain Largely Undeciphered.
In This Benchmark Book, Thirteen International Scholars Tackle The Most Vexed Question In Khipu Studies: How Did The Inkas Record And Transmit Narrative Records By Means Of Knotted Strings? The Authors Approach The Problem From A Variety Of Angles. Several Essays Mine Spanish Colonial Sources For Details About The Kinds Of Narrative Encoded In The Khipu. Others Look At The Uses To Which Khipu Were Put Before And After The Conquest, As Well As Their Current Use In Some Contemporary Andean Communities. Still Others Analyze The Formal Characteristics Of Khipu And Seek To Explain How They Encode Various Kinds Of Numerical And Narrative Data.

The Inka Empire stretched over much of the length and breadth of the South American Andes, encompassed elaborately planned cities linked by a complex network of roads and messengers, and created astonishing works of architecture and artistry and a compelling mythology—all without the aid of a graphic writing system. Instead, the Inkas'records consisted of devices made of knotted and dyed strings—called khipu—on which they recorded information pertaining to the organization and history of their empire. Despite more than a century of research on these remarkable devices, the khipu remain largely undeciphered. In this benchmark book, twelve international scholars tackle the most vexed question in khipu studies: how did the Inkas record and transmit narrative records by means of knotted strings? The authors approach the problem from a variety of angles. Several essays mine Spanish colonial sources for details about the kinds of narrative encoded in the khipu. Others look at the uses to which khipu were put before and after the Conquest, as well as their current use in some contemporary Andean communities. Still others analyze the formal characteristics of khipu and seek to explain how they encode various kinds of numerical and narrative data. The Inka Empire stretched over much of the length and breadth of the South American Andes, encompassed elaborately planned cities linked by a complex network of roads and messengers, and created astonishing works of architecture and artistry and a compelling mythologyall without the aid of a graphic writing system. Instead, the Inkas' records consisted of devices made of knotted and dyed stringscalled khipuon which they recorded information pertaining to the organization and history of their empire. Despite more than a century of research on these remarkable devices, the khipu remain largely undeciphered. In this benchmark book, twelve international scholars tackle the most vexed question in khipu how did the Inkas record and transmit narrative records by means of knotted strings? The authors approach the problem from a variety of angles. Several essays mine Spanish colonial sources for details about the kinds of narrative encoded in the khipu. Others look at the uses to which khipu were put before and after the Conquest, as well as their current use in some contemporary Andean communities. Still others analyze the formal characteristics of khipu and seek to explain how they encode various kinds of numerical and narrative data. An overview of Spanish colonial commentary on Andean knotted string records / Gary Urton Spinning a yarn: landscape, memory, and discourse structure in Quechua narratives / Rosaleen Howard A khipu information string theory / William J. Conklin Reading khipu: labels, structure, and format / Marcia Ascher Inka writing / Robert Ascher String registries: native accounting and memory according to the colonial sources / Carlos Sempat Assadourian Woven words: the royal khipu of Blas Valera / Sabine P. Hyland Recording signs in narrative-accounting khipu / Gary Urton Yncap Cimin Quipococ's knots / Jeffrey Quilter "Without deceit or lies": variable chinu readings during a sixteenth centruy tribute-restitution trial / Tristan Platt Pérez Bocanegra's ritual formulario: khipu knots and confession / Regina Harrison Patrimonial khipu in a modern Peruvian village: an introduction to the "Quipocamayo" of Tupicocha, Huarochirí / Frank Salmon The continuing khipu traditions: principles and practices / Carol Mackey. muse.jhu.edu@chapter276916 muse.jhu.edu@chapter276917 muse.jhu.edu@chapter276918 muse.jhu.edu@chapter276919 muse.jhu.edu@chapter276920 muse.jhu.edu@chapter276921 muse.jhu.edu@chapter276922 muse.jhu.edu@chapter276923 muse.jhu.edu@chapter276924 muse.jhu.edu@chapter276925 muse.jhu.edu@chapter276926 muse.jhu.edu@chapter276927 muse.jhu.edu@chapter276928 muse.jhu.edu@chapter276929 muse.jhu.edu@chapter276930 muse.jhu.edu@chapter276931 muse.jhu.edu@chapter276932 muse.jhu.edu@chapter276933 muse.jhu.edu@chapter276934 muse.jhu.edu@chapter276935 muse.jhu.edu@chapter276936 muse.jhu.edu@chapter276937 muse.jhu.edu@chapter276938 muse.jhu.edu@chapter276939 muse.jhu.edu@chapter276940