khipu article

[supercheesegirl]

The professor they talk about in this article, Gary Urton, taught my Inca class last fall. He is so freakin' smart, and khipu are his specialty. "Khipu" are knotted cords used as record-keeping devices by the Incas, and I think they're fascinating because they're basically an ancient writing system. Every other culture developed a flat, 2D writing system, but the Incas used wool, which is the best material they had to work with--they lived in the mountains, they didn't *have* anything flat to write on. I already knew all the stuff in the article because of taking Urton's class. I'm so glad I had the chance to take a class with him--I'm glad his khipu studies are going well.

Comments

[nchanter.livejournal.com]

I heard about the fact that they were starting to decode those and thought of you. And James. But mostly you 'cause you're more fun to think about. (He took that class too.) I was going to mention it to you, and then forgot. So yea!!!!!!!!!!

[amedia.livejournal.com]

Dude! That is SO freaking cool. The hubby was just telling me & metherion about that news story - he'll be very impressed when I tell him about this!!!

[supercheesegirl.livejournal.com]

It was definitely one of the neatest classes I've ever had (and I've had some neat ones!). The whole Inka culture is just really different and cool.