A 500-year-old Inca document made of alpaca wool and human hair was made by an unknown individual of low social status, shattering the common belief that only high-ranking imperial officials knew how ...

The Inca Empire in South America was one of the most powerful pre-Columbian societies. It was known for the architecture of Machu Picchu, an extensive road network and a system of terraces for ...

IFLScience needs the contact information you provide to us to contact you about our products and services. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time.

It has long been believed that within Ancient Inca society, khipus—intricate woven string objects used as a form of writing—were the preserve of the elite. But after studying human hair woven into a ...

The heaps of khipus emerged from garbage bags in the back of the tiny, one-room museum—clumps of tangled ropes the size of beach balls. Sabine Hyland smiled as she gazed down at them and said, “Qué ...

Daniel Cossins discusses the possibility that Inca khipu might encode stories as well as numbers (29 September, p 33). Apparently those master navigators and peerless blue water sailors the ...

Benjamin holds a Master's degree in anthropology from University College London and has previously worked in the fields of psychedelic neuroscience and mental health. Benjamin holds a Master's degree ...