File number:- arcc0015

© South American Pictures

An illustration by Felipe Guaman Poma de Ayala ca 1580-1620 [?- precise date unknown] depicting a Quipucamayoc- a Quipu master or keeper. The quipu was a corded memory device using knots in the cords to represent numbers or items much as the old idea of making a knot in a tie. As far as is known the Inca had no form of writing