These knotted cords may hide the first evidence that the Incas collected taxes

Stringed devices called khipus are undergoing more research scrutiny, but most remain enigmatic

khipus

PAY UP A pair of stringed devices called khipus, unearthed at an Inca site in a basket covered with chili peppers, used knots to record taxes on stored quantities of those vegetables, researchers say.

G. Urton

While excavating an Inca outpost on Peru’s southern coast, archaeologist Alejandro Chu and his colleagues uncovered some twisted surprises.