The newly discovered city of Peñico in Peru, believed to have existed between 1800 and 1500 BC, provides insight into the success of early cultures and their response to environmental changes.
Ancient Trading City Peñico Discovered in Peru: A Glimpse into Early Civilizations
Ancient Trading City Peñico Discovered in Peru: A Glimpse into Early Civilizations
Archaeologists reveal a 3,500-year-old city that highlights the intricate trade networks of ancient Peru.
The archaeological team announced the exciting discovery of Peñico, a 3,500-year-old city located in the northern Barranca province of Peru. This ancient trading hub is thought to have played a crucial role in connecting early communities on the Pacific coast with the inhabitants of the Andes mountains and the Amazon basin. Situated approximately 200km north of Lima at an altitude of 600 meters (1,970 feet), Peñico is believed to have been established between 1,800 and 1,500 BC, correlating to the time when significant civilizations were emerging in regions like the Middle East and Asia.
Archaeological investigations lasting eight years at Peñico have uncovered 18 structures, including ceremonial temples and residential buildings. Drone footage showcases a central circular structure, bordered by various remains of stone and mud constructions. Notable artifacts discovered at the site encompass ceremonial objects, clay sculptures of human and animal figures, and necklaces crafted from beads and seashells.
The location of Peñico is particularly noteworthy as it lies near Caral, recognized as the earliest known civilization in the Americas, which flourished 5,000 years ago around 3,000 BC in the Supe valley of Peru. Caral is notable for its impressive 32 monuments, including grand pyramid structures, advanced agricultural practices, and urban settlements. Scholars believe Caral developed independently of other ancient civilizations existing in contemporary regions such as India, Egypt, Sumeria, and China.
Dr. Ruth Shady, a leading archaeologist behind the excavations at Peñico and Caral in the 1990s, emphasized the importance of this discovery in understanding the fate of the Caral civilization following its decline due to climate change. "The community at Peñico was strategically located for trade, facilitating exchanges with societies from the coast, the highlands, and the jungle," stated Dr. Shady.
At a recent press conference detailing these findings, Marco Machacuay, an archaeologist associated with the Ministry of Culture, further noted Peñico's significance as a continuation of the Caral society's legacy. Peru is renowned for harboring many of the Americas' most important archaeological sites, including the iconic Inca citadel of Machu Picchu and the enigmatic Nazca Lines carved into the desert landscape along its central coast.
Archaeological investigations lasting eight years at Peñico have uncovered 18 structures, including ceremonial temples and residential buildings. Drone footage showcases a central circular structure, bordered by various remains of stone and mud constructions. Notable artifacts discovered at the site encompass ceremonial objects, clay sculptures of human and animal figures, and necklaces crafted from beads and seashells.
The location of Peñico is particularly noteworthy as it lies near Caral, recognized as the earliest known civilization in the Americas, which flourished 5,000 years ago around 3,000 BC in the Supe valley of Peru. Caral is notable for its impressive 32 monuments, including grand pyramid structures, advanced agricultural practices, and urban settlements. Scholars believe Caral developed independently of other ancient civilizations existing in contemporary regions such as India, Egypt, Sumeria, and China.
Dr. Ruth Shady, a leading archaeologist behind the excavations at Peñico and Caral in the 1990s, emphasized the importance of this discovery in understanding the fate of the Caral civilization following its decline due to climate change. "The community at Peñico was strategically located for trade, facilitating exchanges with societies from the coast, the highlands, and the jungle," stated Dr. Shady.
At a recent press conference detailing these findings, Marco Machacuay, an archaeologist associated with the Ministry of Culture, further noted Peñico's significance as a continuation of the Caral society's legacy. Peru is renowned for harboring many of the Americas' most important archaeological sites, including the iconic Inca citadel of Machu Picchu and the enigmatic Nazca Lines carved into the desert landscape along its central coast.
