XRay Views - A Reader’s Guide
1. X Ray Views
To understand the various types of summations, three types of views are useful:
- A Summand Map - a compressed overview map of “ribbon” summand ranges, by sum-cord location, for each of the left and right handed sums
- An X-Ray View - a detailed network graph of sums and summands for the entire khipu for all sums for left-handed, and right-handed sums, respectively.
- A List of Sum Schemas - a compact graphical and detailed textual view of each sum appearing for that kind of Ascher sum
Let’s review these views in detail. As example studies, let’s examine khipus KH0011, KH0056, and KH0385.
2. Sum X-Ray Views
X-Ray views provide a detailed visual review of Ascher sums. Again, let’s look at the left-handed pendant pendant sums for KH0011 and KH0056. (Click on the images to see the full size images.)Right-Handed Pendant Pendant Sum X-Ray for KH0011
Left-Handed Pendant Pendant Sum X-Ray for KH0056
X-Ray views are arranged with cords of a group in a column. Each square cell in the column represents a cord, and it the center is the cord’s knotted value, and it’s Ascher color. Sums and Summands have arrows and label pointing to their respective children or parents.
4. Sum Schemas
Sum schemas are visual representations of each sum.
The second row for KH0056’s Right-handed sums shows the sum schema for sum cord p6. The sum schema image shows the right-handed sum cord (indicated by a black square) and the three summandcords (indicated by black squares - red is right, blue is left).
The textual information is telling us that p6 is located on group 4, in the 1st position, and has a value of 15. It is a mottled cord of two colors: MB (Moderate Brown) and LC (Dark Grayish Blue). There are three summands from p11, p12 and p13. Each is a Black (B) cord or Dark Grayish Blue (LC) color and the sums are 5+5+5.
| # | Schema Color | Sum Schema | Sum Cord | Sum Cord Value | # Summands | Summands |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | #27B5BB |
|
p11,1:20LC | 20 | 2 | p8:10MB:LC + p9:10B |
| 2 | #CA187F |
|
p64,1:15MB:LC | 15 | 3 | p11:5LC + p12:5B + p13:5B |