How to pronounce“khipu”in English

Khipu typically included a primary cord with pendant cords hanging off it, as well as subsidiary cords hanging off of those.

Khipu also had plenty of other attributes, like different colors, and types of knots, and even different ways the strings were twisted together, called the ply.

Incan khipu were made from cloth, usually cotton, and fibers from animals like alpacas and llamas.

The khipu had 14 colors and hair from six different types of animals, some of which could only be identified by touch.

And the khipu might have worked a bit like a writing system, too, at least some of the time.

The word khipu comes from the Quechuan word for "knot," and they look kind of like a really intricate necklace.

Each chord on a khipu was arranged like this, with knots in a series of rows.