Mackinley FitzPatrick

FitzPatrick, Mackinley. (2024). “New Insights on Cord Attachment and Social Hierarchy in Six Khipus from the Santa Valley, Peru.” Ethnohistory 71(4): 443–469.

This article analyzes the potential khipu-document “match” involving six Inka-style khipus from Peru’s Santa Valley that record data similar to a 1670 colonial census of San Pedro de Corongo. Despite its potential as a breakthrough in khipu decipherment, crucial details surrounding these potential “Rosetta khipus” and their associated colonial document have been left out, overlooked, or confused in the literature. This article’s objective is to synthesize and evaluate what is known about this khipu-document “match” while also using combinatorics to identify an optimal moiety alignment for the six lineage groups listed in the 1670 census. This novel moiety alignment differs from the one proposed in 2018 by Manuel Medrano and Gary Urton and is supported by additional structures found in the six khipus. This discovery could lead to a broader understanding of the social hierarchy of San Pedro de Corongo in 1670, as well as an expanded reading of the six Santa Valley khipus. Furthermore, this study presents the first-ever identification of recto and verso cord attachment knot orientations being used as a marked and unmarked sign, respectively. This article’s findings provide a significant contribution toward the ongoing decipherment of nonnumerical khipu signs.

Hammer, Emily, Mackinley FitzPatrick, and Jason Ur. (2022). “Succeeding CORONA: declassified HEXAGON intelligence imagery for archaeological and historical research.” Antiquity:1–17.

Over the past 25 years, CORONA satellite imagery has become an integral part of archaeological research, especially for arid, sparsely vegetated regions such as the Middle East. Since 2020, a new archive of satellite imagery gathered by the US spy satellite programme that succeeded CORONA—HEXAGON—has become widely available for download via the United States Geological Survey. This photographic archive has enormous potential for archaeological research. Here, the authors seek to lower the barriers to accessing and using this imagery by detailing the background, technical specifications and history of the HEXAGON archive. Four case studies illustrate the benefits and limitations of HEXAGON imagery for archaeological and historical research in the Middle East and beyond.

FitzPatrick, Mackinley. (Forthcoming). “Primary Questions: A Survey of Inka-Style Khipu Primary Cords.”  In Symmetry, Repetition, and Pattern Recognition in Andean Khipus. Barnardsville: Boundary End Archaeology Research Center.

Primary cords serve a pivotal role as the backbone of most khipus, yet our understanding of them remains incomplete. This paper presents a comprehensive survey of known Inka-style primary cords, aiming to address fundamental questions about their functions and potential significance. Here, the broader cultural and ritual roles of these cords in the Andean world are examined, and it is evident that these cords transcend their role as mere hosts for pendants and subsidiary cords—actively linking, separating, organizing, and safeguarding khipu data. Furthermore, the study explores the diverse range of primary cord types, structures, and color patterns as potential indicators of distinct khipu genres. This paper acknowledges the challenges in recording and analyzing the data embedded in these cords due to their complex ply structures and color patterns. In order to further enhance our understanding of primary cords and khipu systems, this paper emphasizes the need for better resolution data and the broader application of innovative methods of recording primary cords.

FitzPatrick, Mackinley. (2024). “The Daily Life of a Khipologo.”  In Situ: News and Events of the Harvard Standing Committee on Archaeology:8–12. Fall Semester.

This piece offers a firsthand look at the process of studying Andean khipus at Museo Leymebamba in Peru. It details the challenges of documenting thousands of cords, the evolving methodologies used in khipu research, and the importance of preserving these artifacts for future study. Through a mix of meticulous data collection, daily routines, and reflections on the field, it provides insight into the dedication required to unravel the complexities of khipu records.

FitzPatrick, Mackinley. (2024). “Into the Cloud Forest.”  ReVista: Harvard Review of Latin America.David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies.

This piece recounts an unexpected journey through Peru’s highland jungle, where an illness leads to an impromptu trek to Laguna de los Cóndores. Along the way, Mackinley FitzPatrick navigates the challenges of horseback riding, high-altitude trekking, and cultural translation, culminating in a visit to the remote cliffside mausoleums that once safeguarded the khipus he studies. Blending adventure with archaeological insight, this story offers a glimpse into both the physical and intellectual challenges of fieldwork in the Andes.

FitzPatrick, Mackinley. (2024). “Khipus at Harvard: Misadventures with Khipu Naming Conventions."  In Situ: News and Events of the Harvard Standing Committee on Archaeology:20–24. Spring Semester.

This piece explores the complexities of identifying and referencing Andean khipus due to evolving naming systems over the years. Mackinley FitzPatrick recounts his efforts to track the history of a specific khipu at Harvard’s Peabody Museum, navigating the inconsistencies created by different scholars’ numbering conventions. The article highlights the challenges of standardization in archaeological research and the importance of maintaining historical continuity while adapting to modern data practices.

FitzPatrick, Mackinley. (2023). “Why Knot Chacha? A Summer with the Khipus of Lagunas de Los Cóndores.”  ReVista: Harvard Review of Latin America. David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies.

This article explores Mackinley FitzPatrick’s 2023 summer fieldwork at the Museo Leymebamba in Peru, where he studied a collection of Inka khipus. The article details the challenges of accessing and analyzing these intricate knotted records, the meticulous process of documenting thousands of data points, and the unexpected companionship of a local dog named Chacha. Through personal reflection, research insights, and community engagement, this piece offers a glimpse into the daily life of an archaeologist working to unravel the secrets of ancient Andean record-keeping systems.

FitzPatrick, Mackinley. (2022). “Field Notes and Notes on Feeling: Mental Snapshots from an Archaeological Excavation in Peru.”  ReVista: Harvard Review of Latin America. David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies.

This reflective piece Mackinley FitzPatrick’s experiences leading an excavation unit at Santa Apolonia, Cajamarca. Blending detailed field notes with personal reflections, the article explores the challenges of working in a Spanish-speaking research environment, the process of uncovering archaeological features, and the emotional journey of conducting independent fieldwork. From carefully documenting stratigraphic layers to forming unexpected connections with local culture and language, this piece provides a candid look at the complexities of archaeology beyond the artifacts themselves.

FitzPatrick, Mackinley. (2022). “Khipu, the Ancient Inka Accounting System.”  ADP ReThink Quarterly (6).

Long before modern spreadsheets, the Inka Empire used khipu—intricate knotted cords—to record taxes, census data, and storehouse inventory. This article explores how khipukamayuqs (khipu keepers) meticulously maintained these records, using a base-10 knotting system that scholars have partially deciphered. Excavations at Inkawasi, Peru, have revealed khipu that tracked stock and taxation, with evidence suggesting a system of checks and balances between accountants. While much of their numerical function is understood, researchers—including Mackinley FitzPatrick—are investigating non-numerical elements such as fiber type, knot style, and color to uncover whether khipu also encoded historical narratives.