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List of Andean peaks with known pre-Columbian ascents

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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

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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

Mountains with evidence found at high altitude

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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

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  • 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.