Araral and Other Peaks. The purpose of the Argentinian-Italian 1978 Expedition to southern Bolivia was to locate signs of ancient Indian occupancy on high summits. Its program could not be fully carried out because of transportation problems. On August 22, Cerro Cora Cora (4835 meters, 15,862 feet), located near the town of Salinas and north of the Uyuni salt flat, was ascended by expedition members, together with the Bolivian Felipe Barrientos. On the summit it was ascertained that Indian ascents, both ancient and modern, had occurred. Sacrifice of llama hearts takes place there every year and the same applies to the sharp rock peak Chorolque (5615 meters, 18,420 feet), which dominates southern Bolivia. Many old Indian constructions were also observed on high passes along the Bolivian-Chilean border. An ascent of Cerro del Inca (5020 meters, 16,470 feet) did not yield any findings, but Cerro Ascotán (5480 meters, 17,979 feet) had on its summit two rock enclosures and what was perhaps a small altar. It was ascended on August 30 by A. Beorchia, P. Destro, L. Ferrarese and T. Mostellaro. Frozen ground made excavation impossible. The same day L. Bandan, F. Cremonese, J. Olivares, A. Ragano and E. Yacante ascended Cerro Araral (5680 meters, 18,635 feet). On its top, only traces of modern ascents were found. (Information from the Centrol de Investigaciones Arqueológicas de Alta Montaña, San Juan, Argentina.)

Evelio Echevarría