# Can specific khipus be matched to the colonial documents that transcribe or describe them? · Inka khipus: the knotted-cord records > Three answers have been proposed. The Santa Valley khipus record the 1670 revisita, and more such pairs can be found in colonial archives. leads, with… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/khipu/questions/QST0D4V7ZVR3G4E/can-specific-khipus-be-matched-to-the-colonial-documents Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:57:48+00:00 --- **0** # Can specific khipus be matched to the colonial documents that transcribe or describe them? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [Do any khipus record language, or only numbers and categories?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/khipu/questions/QST0D4V7ZKY6123/do-any-khipus-record-language-or-only-numbers-and-categories)·3 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: the Santa Valley khipus record the 1670 revisita, and more such pairs can be found in colonial archives** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. The Santa Valley khipus record the 1670 revisita, and more such pairs can be found in colonial archives. leads, with evidence 1 for: partly supported by its tests. Two are still possible. ## Why it matters Matching is the khipu equivalent of a bilingual. The Santa Valley case is the only published match of a group of khipus to a named census⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4V7R1R6YP6/toward-the-decipherment-of-a-set-of-mid-colonial-khipus-from). ## Answers 3 [**The Santa Valley khipus record the 1670 revisita, and more such pairs can be found in colonial archives.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/khipu/answers/ANS0D4V83GY29X6/the-santa-valley-khipus-record-the-1670-revisita-and-more) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 1 for Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/khipu/answers/ANS0D4V84G6332N/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**The Santa Valley match is coincidental or the result of choosing which cords to sum.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/khipu/answers/ANS0D4V840J15A3/the-santa-valley-match-is-coincidental-or-the-result-of) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible ## History 1. 2018[Medrano & Urton puts forward: the Santa Valley khipus record the 1670 revisita, and more such pairs can be found in colonial archives.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4V7R1R6YP6/toward-the-decipherment-of-a-set-of-mid-colonial-khipus-from) 1. 2018[Medrano & Urton: 133 six-cord groups against 132 named tributaries; first-cord values total the assessed tribute.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4V7R1R6YP6/toward-the-decipherment-of-a-set-of-mid-colonial-khipus-from)For: The Santa Valley khipus record the 1670 revisita, and more such pairs can be found in colonial archives. 1. 2024[Medrano & Khosla: internal sums are common in khipus, so totals can be reached in more than one way.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4V7R9J4S9R/how-can-data-science-contribute-to-understanding-the-khipu)For: The Santa Valley match is coincidental or the result of choosing which cords to sum. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/khipu/questions/QST0D4V7ZVR3G4E/can-specific-khipus-be-matched-to-the-colonial-documents%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/khipu/questions/QST0D4V7ZVR3G4E/can-specific-khipus-be-matched-to-the-colonial-documents%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/khipu/questions/QST0D4V7ZVR3G4E/can-specific-khipus-be-matched-to-the-colonial-documents%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/khipu/questions/QST0D4V7ZVR3G4E/can-specific-khipus-be-matched-to-the-colonial-documents%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/khipu/questions/QST0D4V7ZVR3G4E/can-specific-khipus-be-matched-to-the-colonial-documents%23add-source) Where it fits Inka khipus: the knotted-cord records [**Do any khipus record language, or only numbers and categories?** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/khipu/questions/QST0D4V7ZKY6123/do-any-khipus-record-language-or-only-numbers-and-categories)Key question · most likely khipus record numbers and the categories they belong to; colour, fibre and attachment label what is counted… **Can specific khipus be matched to the colonial documents that transcribe or describe them?** You're here · the Santa Valley khipus record the 1670 revisita, and more such pairs can be found in colonial archives [ Ask a question under this one ]