A Lock of Hair Could Rewrite Knowledge Of The Inca Empire

Regina Barber hosts NPR science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce on Short Wave to discuss the Inca Empire's unique record-keeping system using knotted strings called khipus. They explore how these khipus, with their colors and knot placements, served as a form of writing, traditionally believed to be exclusive to elite men. The conversation shifts to recent findings challenging this notion, focusing on a 500-year-old khipu made with human hair, suggesting commoners may have also been involved in creating and interpreting these records. The discussion includes insights from researchers like Kit Lee and Sabina Hyland, who are uncovering new perspectives on the cultural significance of khipus and their connection to modern Andean communities.