Scientists Are Decoding a Mysterious Form of Writing From the Ancient Inca Empire--Here's What It Reveals

Micah Hanks·May 26, 2025



Researchers studying an ancient form of writing used by the Incas in pre-Columbian South America have unraveled new clues to a longstanding mystery.

The research, undertaken by Professor Sabine Hyland at the University of St. Andrews, reveals that the enigmatic form of communication, known as quipu (also written as khipu), helped record observations of the ancient climate during the height of the Incan Empire.

These knotted-string devices served a range of functions, including communication and record keeping, although their full purpose has long remained mysterious. A primary reason for the lingering questions about their use is inaccessibility, as most quipus are housed within museums and collections, where crucial context about their use in the ancient world is unavailable.

Decoding the Secrets of Ancient Incan Quipus
For many years, these enigmatic artifacts have been a focus for Hyland, a Professor of World Religions at the University of St Andrews. In a recent breakthrough, Hyland has finally managed to uncover crucial new insights into the use of quipus and their role in ancient Incan culture.

Now, her findings are upending several past ideas archaeologists have maintained about string-writing, after she was granted access to a collection of ancient quipus that had never been studied previously. This remarkable collection is currently in the possession of an Indigenous community known as Santa Leonor de Jucul in Peru.



string-writing quipu
Professor Sabine Hyland appears alongside examples of ancient quipu string-writing

More:
https://thedebrief.org/scientists-are-decoding-a-mysterious-form-of-writing-from-the-ancient-inca-empire-heres-what-it-reveals/

! ! ! ! !