Duncan Craig Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> No it wasn't uncommon...between the Andes and
> China, across the Pacific. I'd be interested if
> you could find another culture that used a knotted
> cord as a tax-gatherers instrument
> outside of the circum-Pacific region.

There were some outside of the circum-Pacific region that used it yes... I don't recall if any tax purposes were mentioned. I'll dig around today.


> You're very familiar with Caral. Are you aware of
> a khipu dated to 4200 bc? I don't have Conklins
> paper handy. What was his earliest date?

Dr. Shady is calling it a "proto-khipu" ... it sounded very much like what Jeffrey Splitstoser discussed in the paper "Bound to be important: wrapped sticks and cords in a late Paracas burial at Cerrillos, Ica Valley, Peru" which he presented in 2003. I have so far been unsuccessful at getting a copy of this ...

I read Conklin's paper but my memory is never that good ... I'll pull it back out and check.



Kat

Ma'at Moderator

Founder and Director of The Hall of Ma'at

Contributing author to Archaeological Fantasies:
How pseudoarchaeology misrepresents the past and misleads the public
"If you panic, you're lost" -- W. T. 'Watertight' Southard