knotted cord or rope
Refers to a cord or rope that has been tied into knots, often for practical or symbolic purposes.
In ancient times, knotted cords were used as a means of record-keeping.
Quipu was a widely used information system in the Inca Empire.
knotted cord records; quipu
From 結 (けつ, 'tie, knot') + 縄 (じょう, 'rope, cord'). The abbreviation sense for quipu comes from 結縄文字.