Women in STEM: Inca Insights
In the late 16th century, shortly after the khipu examined in a recent study was created, Indigenous historian Guaman Poma de Ayala documented how older women utilized khipu to meticulously “keep track of everything” in aqllawasai, institutions serving as finishing schools for Inca girls. Selected by local nobility, teenage girls resided in seclusion at these facilities to engage in weaving, brewing chicha, and preparing meals for ceremonial events.
The futures of these girls following their time at aqllawasai varied significantly. While some were married off or designated as concubines for Inca nobles, others took on roles as priestesses, and a fraction faced the grim fate of human sacrifice. However, many returned home, likely bringing with them the valuable knowledge of khipu.
“I believe this is how khipu literacy spread into rural areas and villages,” stated researcher Hyland. “These women, who were not necessarily from elite backgrounds, imparted this knowledge to their children and communities.” It remains uncertain how the creator of the khipu KH0631 acquired these skills—whether during their time in an aqllawasai or from someone who graduated from one—given that the gender of this particular khipu-maker is unknown.
“Science Affirms Traditional Knowledge”
The revelation that a khipu was crafted by a commoner highlights the widespread presence of numeracy in the Inca Empire, indicating a surprisingly egalitarian society. Furthermore, it underscores a long-standing connection between the Inca and their descendants.
Today, individuals who are descendants of the Inca still employ khipu in regions of Peru and Chile. While some scholars, often non-Indigenous, have contended that contemporary khipu represent a poor imitation of Inca technology rather than a continuation of a centuries-old tradition, the evidence of commoners using khipu during the Inca period supports the idea that this knowledge was indeed passed down through generations to modern villagers.
“This points to a thread of continuity between ancient Inca khipus and their modern counterparts,” noted Hyland. “In the few villages where khipu traditions are still alive, the residents already believe in that continuity, making scientific findings reinforce their existing beliefs.”
Science Advances, 2025. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adv1950 (About DOIs).
