Ancient Record Keepers

Before spreadsheets or written records existed, Andean herders developed an ingenious system for keeping track of their alpaca herds – the quipu, a series of knotted cords. These weren’t simple counting tools. Through different knot patterns and cord colors, herders could record detailed information about their herd sizes, colors, and even breeding histories.

The quipu system was particularly important during the Inca Empire, where specialized herders called llama camayoc managed large state and shrine herds. They used these knotted cords to maintain detailed data on the size and color of flocks. This was especially important because the Inca placed great emphasis on breeding pure brown, black, and white animals for sacrifice to specific deities, as well as maintaining quality fiber production for their state-controlled textile industry. You can find more details on the quipu system on Wikipedia.

This sophisticated record-keeping system shows just how advanced alpaca breeding was in pre-Hispanic times, allowing herders to maintain specialized breeds with particular traits. Sadly, much of this traditional knowledge was lost during the Spanish conquest, along with many of the specialized breeds it helped maintain.

Source: Wheeler, J. C. (2012). South American camelids – past, present and future. Journal of Camelid Science, 5:1-24.