According to readings of the Spanish chronicles, the khipu were absolutely critical to the functioning of the administration of Incan society. Before the arrival of the Spanish in the 1500s, the Incan Empire ruled over lands stretching more than 3,100 miles (5,000km) from Ecuador to Chile. This vast empire of 10 million people was governed through a system of partially self-governing provinces in a complex federal hierarchy in which economic production was centrally controlled.
Not only did the Incans genuinely use a knot language called khipu but you can even learn how to read some for yourself. At the height of the Incan empire during the 15th century, these woven messages formed the backbone of a vast system of accounts and ledgers. Some researchers even believe that khipu could have been used to record poems, histories, and songs - just like in Paddington 3.
While they have remained mysteries for hundreds of years, researchers are now beginning to unlock the secrets of this fiendishly complex 'three-dimensional language'. So, if you want to crack codes like Paddington Bear, here's how you can do it. There was even a specially trained caste called khipumayuq, or the keepers of the khipus who could read and tie the chords.
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