Inca Rituals and Sacred Mountains: A Study of the World's Highest Archaeological Sites

Los Angles: The Cotsen Institute of Archaeology Press, 2010. First Edition, First Printing. Hardcover with Dust Jacket. New/New. Monograph, Band 69

No Flaws or Blemishes but minimal shelf handling; Still Gift Quality. 11.25 inches tall; 264 pages with a bibliography and index; Color photography on glossy pages.. Investigates the Incas' high-altitude ritual sites, focusing on capacocha ceremonies, which involved human sacrifices on Andean peaks. These rituals, core to Inca spirituality, required pilgrims to ascend to elevations over 20,000 feet. The study of Mount Llullaillaco, the highest known archaeological site, offers rare insights into (truncated) how well-preserved artifacts reflect Inca beliefs.

Reinhard and Ceruti examine archaeological findings alongside Spanish chroniclers’ accounts, clarifying practices and symbolic meanings within these rituals. The book skillfully merges historical records with scientific evidence, enhancing understanding of Inca cosmology and the deep connections between the physical landscape and spiritual life. (Inventory #: 19628)