Cited by 3Archaeology and Cultural HeritageHistorical and Architectural StudiesArchaeological Research and Protection

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 17 of the 17 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 31 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

“El camino hacia el santuario incaico del llullaillaco”: el complejo arqueológico más alto del mundo analizado a través de un SIG

Open access
Mignone, Pablo·2015·Virtual Archaeology Review

Abstract

As a contribution to the high altitude Inca archaeology we made surveys in the base, intermediate heights and the surroundings of the Llullaillaco volcano, with the purpose of elucidating the paths followed by the ancient worshippers in their approachment to the shrine. Through a GIS platform we made a distributional analysis in order to find a terrain occupational pattern. As a result, we determined that the archaeological sites that were found in our surveys and the ones that form the Llullaillaco complex are located along the optimal path for approaching and ascending to the summit.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This paper uses GIS least-cost path and network analysis to model optimal routes to the Inca sanctuary on Llullaillaco, the world’s highest archaeological complex. It finds that known archaeological structures and the ascent route align with low-slope, sheltered, high-insolation, water-adjacent terrain, and argues the main circulation axis was north–south from San Pedro de Atacama toward Copiapó rather than from the eastern Argentine Puna.

Key findings

  • Llullaillaco volcano reaches 6,739 masl, is the highest volcano in the world and third-highest mountain in South America, and its summit holds the world’s highest archaeological site; the complex comprises 45 structures along a 10 km path, with three preserved human bodies and more than 140 sumptuary objects found in 1999.
  • GIS least-cost path and network analysis produced an optimal route that coincides with surveyed archaeological sites and the “ruta arqueológica” to the summit; structures cluster near water (distance mode 1–400 m, n=33, 71.7%), in physiographic shelter (n=22, 47.8%), on low slopes (0.01–10.12°, n=14, 43.8%), and in areas receiving up to 11 hours of daily sun (n=17, 37%).
  • Chi-square tests indicate the distribution is not random: Fisiografía χ²=39.667, df=5; Distancia χ²=56.956, df=3; Orientación χ²=32.622, df=6; Pendiente χ²=41.111, df=4; all Asymp. Sig. = .000.
  • The paper concludes the circulation network did not come from the east (Argentine dry Puna) but formed part of a north–south axis linking the fertile oases of San Pedro de Atacama with Copiapó; the nearly 400 km chain of volcanoes was included in Andean circulation through the Despoblado de Atacama, likely motivated by caravan traffic within mining exploitation.

Methods

  • Field surveys were conducted at the base, intermediate heights, and sectors near the Llullaillaco volcano, focusing on quebradas draining into the Salar de Punta Negra basin in Chile’s 2nd Region (Antofagasta).
  • A GIS analysis used an ASTER DEM GeoTIFF (1 arc-second, ~30 m grid; WGS84/EGM96; NASA; vertical precision 20 m at 95% confidence, horizontal 30 m at 95% confidence). Slope and river/flow-accumulation maps were combined by map algebra into a friction surface (water=1, no water=0), then least-cost path and network analysis with a cost-economy algorithm identified optimal approach and ascent routes.
  • Chi-square tests assessed whether 46 recorded structures, classified into 7 types, were distributed non-randomly relative to physiography, distance, aspect, and slope.

Limitations

  • Stated: the paper calls for new surveys and excavations of nearby sites to compare cultural components and sequences, in order to clarify the origin of the intervening material culture and the historical beginnings of mountain cult.
  • Stated: high-mountain archaeology is described as germinal and limited by data provenance, with many cases deriving from illegal excavations or amateur work.
  • Evident from the text: the friction surface models only slope and rivers/streams, so other potentially relevant variables are not included; the DEM’s vertical and horizontal precision is 20 m and 30 m at 95% confidence, respectively.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.4995/var.2013.4356

Cites

17 of 17 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Figures

Figura 1: Vista del Salar de Punta Negra y del volcán Llullaillaco.
Figura 1: Vista del Salar de Punta Negra y del volcán Llullaillaco.CC-BY-NC-ND · From the PDF
Figura 2: Imagen del hallazgo del 'cementerio' de la base del volcán Llullaillaco en 1972. Cortesía Sr. Miguel Nacul, miembro de la expedición.
Figura 2: Imagen del hallazgo del 'cementerio' de la base del volcán Llullaillaco en 1972. Cortesía Sr. Miguel Nacul, miembro de la expedición.CC-BY-NC-ND · From the PDF
Figura 3: Tramo de camino incaico que desciende hacia Quebrada Zorritas.
Figura 3: Tramo de camino incaico que desciende hacia Quebrada Zorritas.CC-BY-NC-ND · From the PDF
Image 4
CC-BY-NC-ND · From the PDF
Figura 5: Conjunto TN, refugios y estructuras rituales.
Figura 5: Conjunto TN, refugios y estructuras rituales.CC-BY-NC-ND · From the PDF
Figura 6: Conjunto de estructuras de refugio TS.
Figura 6: Conjunto de estructuras de refugio TS.CC-BY-NC-ND · From the PDF
Image 7
CC-BY-NC-ND · From the PDF
Figura 8: Vista hacia el volcán Llullaillaco desde las 'columnas del Inca' .
Figura 8: Vista hacia el volcán Llullaillaco desde las 'columnas del Inca' .CC-BY-NC-ND · From the PDF
Image 9
CC-BY-NC-ND · From the PDF
Figura 10: Modelado de pendientes y caminos de menor coste.
Figura 10: Modelado de pendientes y caminos de menor coste.CC-BY-NC-ND · From the PDF
Figura 11: Modelado de pendientes y caminos de menor coste para el acceso al volcán Llullaillaco.
Figura 11: Modelado de pendientes y caminos de menor coste para el acceso al volcán Llullaillaco.CC-BY-NC-ND · From the PDF
Figura 12: Trazado del camino óptimo de ascenso al volcán Llullaillaco mediante un análisis de redes.
Figura 12: Trazado del camino óptimo de ascenso al volcán Llullaillaco mediante un análisis de redes.CC-BY-NC-ND · From the PDF

Verification

Claims the paper makes

26 Sources not found · 24 Own result · 9 Own interpretation · 4 No basis given · 1 Not checked yet

Verify all 1 references — free account
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 36
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 24
48 of 48
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The spatial study of the constructions built for the Llullaillaco ritual had been relegated in prior research.

    “Desde este hallazgo en 1.999 se sucedieron distintas investigaciones practicadas en las ofrendas humanas y un tanto menos en el acompañamiento mortuorio, pero quedó relegado el estudio espacial de las construcciones erigidas para el ritual”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The least-cost paths calculated from slope and water variables correspond to the routes actually used by ancient worshippers to approach and ascend Llullaillaco.

    “A través de la adopción de estas herramientas SIG queremos comprender la circulación hacia el volcán Llullaillaco, relacionando la distribución de hallagos arqueológicos conocidos con los caminos de menor coste que conducen al macizo.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The ASTER DEM's stated vertical and horizontal precision is adequate for the spatial analysis of ancient paths.

    “El mismo es de circulación gratuita aunque requiere suscripción, fue producido en la NASA y posee una precisión de 20 m a un porcentaje de confianza del 95% para datos verticales y de 30 m a un porcentaje de 95% de confianza para datos horizontales.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    El modelo de camino de menor coste y el análisis de redes sobre el DEM representan adecuadamente la transitabilidad y las rutas de circulación prehispánicas en el área.

    “El siguiente paso fue la aplicación del algoritmo de camino de menor coste sobre la combinación de ambas variables, cuyo resultado es el trazado de un camino óptimo que coincide al detalle con los sitios relevados por nosotros.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Las estructuras arqueológicas registradas son de filiación incaica y su distribución refleja decisiones de los constructores-usuarios del santuario.

    “en la cual se suceden las estructuras incaicas hasta la cima”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    La muestra de estructuras relevadas es representativa de la red de circulación y del patrón de asentamiento incaico en el área.

    “La evidencia arqueológica consta de 46 estructuras, que clasificamos en 7 tipos: estructura rectangular simple, estructura rectangular compuesta, camino, apacheta, hito, parapeto, loira y apilamiento informe de piedras para propósitos rituales.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Las condiciones ambientales actuales (pendiente, insolación, cursos de agua) son equivalentes a las del período incaico.

    “El estadístico χ 2 permite concluir que la distribución por el paisaje no es fruto del azar, sino de una selección cuidadosa del relieve, de baja pendiente, al abrigo de los fuertes vientos del oeste (en quebradas y vertientes) que reciben hasta 11 horas de sol por día (tabla 1).”
7 of 7

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

2 of 2

Citations

Cites

Show all 16 references

Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. LYNCH, T. (1986): "Un reconocimiento arqueologico en el salar de Punta Negra, Segunda Region", en Revista Chungara no 16-17, Universidad de Tarapaca, Arica-Chile, pp. 75-88.
  2. NIEMEYER, H. & RIVERA, M. (1983): "Un camino inca en el despoblado de Atacama", en: Boletin de Prehistoria de Chile 9, Departamento de Ciencias Sociologicas y Antropologicas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, pp. 91-193.

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Metadata

Authors
Mignone, P.
Affiliations
National University of Salta (AR)
Corresponding author
Mignone, Pablo
Venue
Virtual Archaeology Review
Published
2015-11-20
Volume
4
Issue
8
Pages
145
ISSN
1989-9947 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2141724465
Cited by
3
References
16
Citations by year
2025: 1 · 2016: 1
FWCI
1.97
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Virtual Archaeology Review (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Dialnet (Universidad de la Rioja) (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • RiuNet (Universitat Politècnica de València) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology (arts and humanities) › Archaeology and Cultural Heritage
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology (arts and humanities) › Historical and Architectural Studies
  • Social Sciences › Archeology › Archaeological Research and Protection
Keywords
Inca archaeology, high-altitude archaeology, archaeological site distribution, pilgrimage routes, archaeological survey

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