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
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, human sacrifices (the largest number of bodies found in The Andes) |
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 sacrifice, firewood |
Pular | 6,225 | Chile | 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 |
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Coropuna, main summit on the left, Kasulla on the right.
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There is a large platform on the summit ofAlto Toroni.
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View of Licancabur from near San Pedro de Atacama.
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Antofalla seen from the north.
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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.