quipus
legend
The legend identifies the colors that represent the bars.
Color Depth
It is called the "key".
legend
legend
Color Scheme
A legend or key.
It identifies the elements by the colors that they give off.
This reference element is called a key.
A quipu was not simply a rope with various lengths and colors of vines; it was a sophisticated recording device used by the Inca civilization. Made from cotton or llama fibers, it consisted of a main cord from which multiple pendant strings hung, often featuring knots and varying colors that represented different numerical values or categories of information. Quipus were used for accounting, census data, and other administrative purposes, demonstrating the Incas' complex communication methods.
The Inca used quipu as a system of keeping records and communicating information. This involved tying knots in strings of various colors and lengths to represent numbers and data, which allowed them to record things like census data, taxes, and accounts.