Quipu, or Khipu, were intricate knot-based devices used by the Inca Empire for counting, keeping census records, and various administrative tasks. These "Talking Knots" date back to the 1st millennium AD, though evidence suggests they were used as far back as 4,600 years ago. Made from colored yarns and camelid fibers, quipus conveyed complex information using a base-ten positional system and a seven-bit binary code. Quipucamayocs, the knot-weaving masters, played a crucial role in Inca society by managing inventories, tax records, and census data. Despite Spanish efforts to replace quipus with European systems, their cultural significance endures.
