MM1086

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Khipu Notes Exist - See Below

Original Author: Manuel Medrano
Museum: Museum der Kulturen (Basel)
Museum Number: IVc.2821.b
Provenance: Unknown
Region: Dr Franz Xavier Weizinger, 1921
Total Number of Cords: 46
Number of Ascher Cord Colors: 7
Benford Match: 0.805
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Datafile: MM1086

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Khipu Notes

Ascher Databook Notes:
  1. The main cord has been reconstructed and pendant cords appear to have been restrung. The color of the main cord and the spacing of pendant cords along it have, therefore, not been recorded.
  2. The Museum gives the provenance as Huacho.
  3. Assuming that the relative positions of the remaining cords are original, on the basis of some similarity of color patterning, we hypothesize that the khipu had at least 3 groups. The remaining pendants would be pendants 8-24 of group I, pendants 1-24 of group II, and pendants 1-4 of group III. Groups I and II would then have the same colors in 9 of the 17 matching positions (P10, P14, P16, P18, P19, P21-P24) and groups II and III would have the same colors in 2 of the 4 matching positions (P1, P2). Also, for groups I and II, the relative magnitudes of the values of pendants 19-22 are similar. (For group I they are 7, 70, 270, 260 and for group II they are 5, 50, 240, 240.)



Manuel Medrano Notes: Moderate size khipu fragment with tightly-spaced pendant cords. Relatively muted in terms of color diversity, although there is very little pendant breakage across the primary cord. The primary cord is extremely difficult to see.
The khipu is affixed to a light brown (YB or YY) cloth backing.
Additional Notes: This khipu was studied by the Aschers, who assigned the label AS086 to their recording. Following convention, I label this recount of the khipu MM1086. Of the khipus in the museum's collections, this is the only one previously catalogued by a modern khipu researcher.


Cord Notes



9-46: Appears as if these cords are not attached to a primary cord at all, since there is only a thread passing through the attachment knots of these cords which affixes them to the same fabric backing as the rest of the khipu. However, the knotting pattern of high value cords and their preservation are similar enough that it is plausible that the cords are correctly ordered and comprised the same original khipu.

All khipus I have studied are currently designated "MM", following convention in the field (and until a more suitable replacement convention is agreed upon)
(Manuel Medrano)