The Khipu Keepers

Explore the undeciphered writing of the Incas

In collaboration with

A Language Hanging by a Thread

History of Khipus and Empires Undeciphered

Anthropologist Sabine Hyland examines Khipus throughout history

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Untie the Knots

Learn the basics of reading in 3D

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What Do We Know About Khipus?

Researcher Manny Medrano unties the knots

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7 Mysteries Cracked About Khipus

What to know and what to look for

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What's a Khipu Made of?

Anatomy of a Khipu

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The Largest Khipu Exhibition

Take a tour around the first exhibition of its kind, as curated by Cecilia Pardo

"This exhibition voices the instrumental role Khipus played in the expansion of the Inca Empire, and its survival in the periods that followed, up to the present day."Cecilia Pardo, Curator of the Khipus: Our History in Knots Exhibition

Recent Discoveries in an Ancient Language

From word to cord

The Khipu-Board of Mangas

A physical connection between words and khipus used during the Republican period in an Andean community

Khipus and written documents

Explore the Santa Valley khipus that have a 'match' with a colonial document.

The Unprecedented Discovery of the Puruchuco Khipus

Learn about the first khipus found in archaeological context in the mid-1960s.

In-Khipu Tours

Dive into the different Khipus from differents time periods

South America's First Empire

Who were the Wari?

What is Special about a Wari Khipu?

Who were the Wari and how to identify khipus from that time period

Explore more Colourful Wari Pieces

Standing Dignitary

Precolumbian

Four cornered hat with geometric designs

Huari Style

Earflare

Four-cornered hat

Mosaic Mirror

Desconocido

Four-cornered hat

Evolution of Khipus Throughout Time

Online Exhibit

Recording the Offerings: The Khipus of Pachacamac

The significance of the Pachacamac and how the offerings were recorded using Khipus

Online Exhibit

The Rapáz Khipu

Know about one example of khipu used during the Republican period in the highlands of Lima.

Online Exhibit

The Ttio Khipus

The significance of the Ttio khipus and their connection to documentations from the 1800s

What it Takes to Conserve a Khipu

Conservation of the khipus from the Temple Radicati Collection

A rare collection from the National University of San Marcos

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Original and Modern Applications

From agriculture to art

Inca Administration and Khipus

How a large empire was managed and the role khipus played in its administration

Khipus in Modern and Contemporary Art

How khipus influenced art

An Artist Gives Voice to Traditional Peruvian Textiles

Paola Torres Núñez del Prado explains the process behind creating a Spanish-language poetry album inspired by khipus

Explore Peruvian High Points

Tread the historic, green trails

ExploreTren De Cusco

ExploreInca Trail to Machu Picchu

ExploreSantuario Historico De Machu Picchu

ExplorePlaza PrincipalSantuario Historico De Machu Picchu

Along the Inca Trail

The most visited site in Peru

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Meet the Incas

Depictions from Post-Conquest Peru

Tupac Inca Yupanqui and a Quipucamayoc

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Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui

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Tupac Inca Yupanqui and Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui

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Tupac Inca Yupanqui

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Tupac Inca Yupanqui

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Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui and the Temple of the Sun

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Viracocha Inca

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Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui and Capac Yupanqui

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Inca Roca

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Travel to the Ancient World

Explore Machu Picchu

Explore art, culture and history from Machu Picchu.

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Un viaje al mundo antiguo

Are you a teacher or parent?

The downloadable lesson plan "Lasting Records of the Inca Empire" can be used by teachers in the classroom or given to students to work through at their own pace.

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