List of Andean peaks with known pre-Columbian ascents
This is an incomplete list of mountains in the Andes that are known to have had pre-Columbian ascents. It is divided into those peaks for which there is direct evidence of an ascent to the summit, and those peaks where evidence has been found only at a lower altitude on the mountain. Ascents were made for religious purposes by groups affiliated with the Inca Empire. These ascents sometimes involved the ritual child sacrifice known as qhapaq hucha.
Mountains with known ascents to the summit
| Name | Elevation (m) | Location | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acay | 5,770 | Argentina | Human bone and walls found on summit |
| Ampato | 6,288 | Peru | Juanita mummy found just under summit |
| Antofalla | 6,440 | Argentina | Summit shrine |
| Alto Toroni | 5,995 | Chile-Bolivia | Large summit platform |
| Colorado | 5,742 | Chile | Summit quadrangle |
| Chachani | 6,057 | Peru | Summit ruins, skeleton, firewood |
| Chañi | 5,930 | Argentina | Summit ruins |
| Chiliques | 5,778 | Chile | Summit ruin and firewood |
| del Plomo | 5,424 | Chile | Mummy found near summit |
| Galan | 5,912 | Argentina | Tombs and statuettes |
| Incahuasi | 6,621 | Chile-Argentina | Ruined walls near summit |
| Laguna Blanca | 6,012 | Argentina | Large platform and firewood near summit |
| Licancabur | 5,930 | Chile-Bolivia | Firewood and structures discovered on summit |
| Llullaillaco | 6,739 | Chile-Argentina | Dwellings and shrines on and near summit |
| Misti | 5,842 | Peru | walls, firewood |
| Chuscha | 5,420 | Argentina | Summit platform, ruins, sacrifice victim |
| Copiapó | 6,052 | Chile | Summit ruins |
| Sairecabur | 5,971 | Chile-Bolivia | Firewood |
| Tambillos | 5,806 | Chile-Argentina | Summit platform, firewood |
| Pili | 6,046 | Chile | Small summit platform |
| Tortolas | 6,160 | Chile-Argentina | Summit platform |
| Paniri | 5,940 | Chile | Various structures on summit |
| Pichu Pichu | 5,665 | Peru | Walls, human sacrfice, firewood |
| Pular | 6,225 | Chile-Argentina | Small dwelling and firewood found |
| Queva | 6,140 | Argentina | 1974 expedition found plundered shrine |
| Reclus | 6,275 | Argentina | Extensive summit constructions |
| Sara Sara | 5,505 | Peru | Stone wall discovered on summit 1921 |
| El Toro | 6,168 | Chile-Argentina | Mummy found in 1964 |
Coropuna, main summit on the left, Kasulla on the right.
There is a large platform on the summit of Alto Toroni.
View of Licancabur from near San Pedro de Atacama.
Antofalla seen from the north.
Two small ruined dwellings at about 6700m on Llullaillaco seen from the summit.
Mountains with evidence found at high altitude
| Name | Elevation (m) | Location | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aconcagua | 6,959 | Argentina | Guanaco found at c.6900m, Child sacrifice at 5250m |
| Aucanquilcha | 6,176 | Chile | Inca ruins at 5400m |
| Mercedario | 6,700 | Argentina | Walls at c.6400m on summit ridge |
| Socompa | 6,030 | Chile-Argentina | Walls & structures at 5000-5700m |
| Coropuna | 6,425 | Peru | Inca pottery found |
| Hualca Hualca | 6,025 | Peru | Puma skin & coca leaves found near summit |
References
- Beorchia, Antonio: "El enigma de los Santuarios Indigenas de alta montaña" CIADAM - Centro de Investigaciones Arqueologicas de Alta Montaña, 1984, San Juan.
- Reinhard, Johan The Ice Maiden: Inca Mummies, Mountain Gods, and Sacred Sites in the Andes. 2005, Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society.
- Reinhard, Johan and Ceruti, María Constanza: "Inca Rituals and Sacred Mountains: A Study of the World's Highest Archaeological Sites" Los Angeles: UCLA, 2010.
- Biggar, John (2020). The Andes: A Guide for Climbers and Skiers (5th ed.). Andes Publishing (Scotland). p. 329 pp. ISBN 978-0-9536087-6-8.
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