Access
This article is part of Nature's premium content.
Published online 11 August 2005 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news050808-11
News
Scientists untangle Inca number-strings
Knotted threads carry signs of ancient accountancy.
Scientists have picked apart some 500-year-old calculations from the Inca empire.
The team deciphered the maths from a series of 'khipus': elaborate structures of coloured, knotted strings.
To read this story in full you will need to login or make a payment (see right).
Comments
Reader comments are usually moderated after posting. If you find something offensive or inappropriate, you can speed this process by clicking 'Report this comment' (or, if that doesn't work for you, email redesign@nature.com). For more controversial topics, we reserve the right to moderate before comments are published.