Archaeologists have made a groundbreaking discovery in Peru's Barranca province, unearthing an ancient city estimated to be 3,500 years old. Named Peñico, this city was an integral trading hub, linking early communities along the Pacific Coast with those in the Andes mountains and the Amazon basin. The archaeological site is located approximately 200 kilometers north of Lima, at an elevation of around 600 meters (1,970 feet) above sea level. Experts believe Peñico was founded during the period between 1,800 and 1,500 BC, correlating with the emergence of early civilizations across the Middle East and Asia.
Recent drone footage of the site reveals a circular structure that sits on a hillside terrace, encircled by remnants of stone and mud buildings. After conducting eight years of research in the area, archaeologists have identified a total of 18 structures, including ceremonial temples and residential complexes. Among the artifacts discovered at Peñico are ceremonial objects, clay sculptures depicting both human and animal figures, and intricate necklaces fashioned from beads and seashells.
Peñico is located near the site of Caral, considered the oldest known civilization in the Americas, which originated around 5,000 years ago in the Supe valley of Peru. Caral features numerous impressive monuments, sophisticated irrigation systems, and urban settlements and is believed to have developed independently from other early civilizations such as those in India, Egypt, Sumeria, and China.
Dr. Ruth Shady, the lead archaeologist for this recent discovery and earlier excavations of Caral in the 1990s, emphasized that uncovering Peñico is crucial for understanding the fate of the Caral civilization, particularly following its decline due to climate change. “The Peñico community was strategically located for trade, facilitating exchanges with societies from the coast, the highlands, and the jungle,” Dr. Shady stated to Reuters.
At a press conference on Thursday, archaeologist Marco Machacuay, affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, reinforced the significance of Peñico as a further extension of the Caral society. Peru continues to be a repository of pivotal archaeological findings, including the famed Inca citadel of Machu Picchu and the enigmatic Nazca Lines carved into the desert landscape.
