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

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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 of Alto 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

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 (2005). The Andes: A Guide for Climbers (3rd ed.). Andes Publishing (Scotland). p. 304 pp. ISBN 0-9536087-2-7.