MM017 - Ascher Sum Fieldmarks

Small khipu fragment with a deteriorating primary cord. The tightly-spaced pendant cords are genuinely associated with the primary cord, although one pendant has a spurious "subsidiary" tied to it (likely at some point during its early mounting). The final cord has substantial subsidiary diversity. The final pendants have anomalous constructions, some with multiple long knots (and in which an additional cord is tied into the knot itself). This leads to uncertain numerical value assignments, although this is noted in the pendant detail spreadsheet.
Additional Notes: This khipu is one of 10 sewn onto a black fabric backing. There is no evidence to indicate that the 10 khipus were originally part of the same artifact, and they are thus recorded separately. The tarp itself is inventoried under IVc.366.03; I append the letters A-J to signify which khipu is referenced in the data, since many individual detached cords are sewn on as well, but are not considered khipus (for the purposes of this catalog) since they lack their original primary cord. The tarp corresponds to drawings attributed to Erland Nordenskiöld, an early Swedish archaeologist and anthropologist who was a head curator of the Ethnographic Museum in Gothenburg.

7: Spurious subsidiary cord is tied onto this pendant (omitted from the data; it has an unbroken attachment loop at its origin)
7s1: Subsidiary is broken at attachment point
8s2: The second long knot has a W:AB cord fragment tied into/emanating from its turns
8s2s1: The second long knot has a W:AB cord fragment tied into/emanating from its turns
8s3: The second long knot has a W:AB cord fragment tied into/emanating from its turns
9s1: The long knot has a W:AB cord fragment tied into/emanating from its turns
9s2: The figure-eight knot has a W cord fragment tied into/emanating from it
9s2s1: The long knot has a W:AB cord fragment tied into/emanating from its turns
All khipus I have studied are currently designated "MM", following convention in the field (and until a more suitable replacement convention is agreed upon)
(Manuel Medrano)