Andes: High-Altitude Archaeological Sites as Cultural Heritage

Introduction

Archaeological remains, predating the Spanish conquest of 1532 CE, have been found on numerous mountain summits in the Andes, including more than 100 sites above 5,200 m, with some ranging as high as 6,700 m. This is only one of the many achievements associated with the culture of the Incas – but it is unique (D’Atroy 2002). In less than a 100 years (c. 1470–1532 CE), they constructed well-built stone structures in mountains over a vast area of the Andes, encompassing the countries of Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru (Beorchia 1985 and 2001) (Fig. 1). Nowhere else on earth have archaeological remains been found at such altitudes. Indeed, the heights of some structures were not even reached again for four centuries, and taken together, this constitutes one of the most awesome accomplishments known to us from ancient times.

Andes: High-Altitude Archaeological Sites as Cultural Heritage, Fig. 1

Map of the central Andes with selected Inca high-altitude archaeological sites...