MM003 - Ascher Sum Fieldmarks

All khipus I have studied are currently designated "MM", following convention in the field (and until a more suitable replacement convention is agreed upon) - Nanuel Medrano

Museum Number: TBU following receipt from Dr. Michael Zelle (Museum Director)
Provenance: From the private estate of Dr. Eduard Gaffron (collector/intellectual), who collected the artifact during his medical practice in Lima between 1882 and 1923. The khipu was entered into the museum collections in 1909, along with other artifacts from Gaffron's collections. Detmold is the hometown of Gaffron's wife.
Archive: Private Collection. Awaiting inventory number.
Museum Description: Object forms part of Detmold's sizable collection of Inka/Andean artifacts, which includes textiles, ceramics, the "Detmold Child" and metal works. One of four khipus in the museum collections (three of which are on display). Displayed flat in the exhibit, in same configuration over the past several decades (lying ~flat, slight angle for viewing in waist-high glass display case in the "Kulturen der Welt" exhibit on the third (top) floor of the museum). Mounted on a cloth board with MM005 (which is not from the Gaffron collection). The khipu has a thick primary cord, which wraps around an MB, Z-spin/S-ply component of the primary cord which is exposed on the right hand side of the cord. Many detached/broken cords are placed by museum conservators on the mounting for aesthetic affect. These detached components (often with long knots) are not recorded in the data table, but are photographed. There is a high incidence of broken cords on the khipu, which often makes identification of attachment knot direction challenging. Many of the pendant cords (denoted in Notes) appear to have attachment knots tied on top of the primary cord, potentially signaling top cords. It is unlikely that the string have all been "inverted," as many pendant cords appear attached traditionally, toward the base of the primary cord.

Primary Cord Color: (YB:GL)-AB which wraps around MB, Z-Spin, S-Ply interior cord (small segment of interior cord exposed on right hand side)

p1: Cord broken at attachment knot
p4: p4 and p5 is actually the same string, but are tied so that the two ends of the string fall down in parallel, giving the appearance of two pendant cords.
p5: This cord is the other end of pendant cord 4, which is run through the wrapping of the primary cord.
p13-p20: Potential group of top cords, as attachment knots are linked to primary cord
p21-p25: Potential second group of top cords (with subsidiary cords)
p28: Tied on top of primary cord
p29: Tied on top of primary cord
p31: Tied on top of primary cord