Strange holes may be Inca spreadsheet.

The article discusses the discovery of over 5,200 holes on Monte Sierpe in Peru, which may have served as a large-scale accounting system for trade and taxation during the Inca Empire. Researchers, led by Jacob Bongers, analyzed sediment samples and aerial imagery, suggesting that the holes were used to deposit goods brought in by local groups, possibly functioning as a barter marketplace before evolving into an accounting device under Inca rule. The layout of the holes resembles Inca counting devices known as khipus, indicating a systematic approach to recording tributes from surrounding communities. While some scholars propose alternative explanations, the findings highlight the site's potential dual purpose as both a monumental structure and a functional social technology for communication among local populations. [Extracted from the article]