Discovery of Ancient City Peñico Offers Insights into Peru's Early Civilizations

Wed Oct 22 2025 14:27:47 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A 3,500-year-old city discovered in Peru could reshape our understanding of early trade and culture between coastal and inland communities.

Archaeologists have revealed Peñico, a 3,500-year-old city believed to have been an essential trading hub connecting early Pacific coast communities to those in the Andes and Amazon. Excavation has uncovered significant structures and artifacts, enhancing knowledge about the ancient Caral civilization.

Archaeologists in Peru's Barranca province have unveiled an ancient city named Peñico, estimated to be around 3,500 years old. This remarkable find is thought to have been a crucial trading hub that linked the early communities along the Pacific coast with those residing in the Andes and the Amazon basin. Located approximately 200 kilometers north of Lima at an elevation of about 600 meters (1,970 feet), Peñico is believed to have been established between 1,800 and 1,500 BC—a time when early civilizations were also flourishing in the Middle East and Asia.

The discovery sheds new light on the fate of the Caral civilization, recognized as the oldest known civilization in the Americas. Aerial views from drone footage reveal a distinctive circular structure at the center of Peñico, encircled by stone and mud building remains. Eight years of archaeological research at the site has led to the unearthing of 18 significant structures, including ceremonial temples and residential complexes.

Among the artifacts found at Peñico were ceremonial objects, clay sculptures depicting human and animal forms, and intricately crafted necklaces made from beads and seashells. The site is located not far from Caral, which boasts 32 monumental constructions, such as large pyramids, advanced irrigation methods, and urban layouts. The Caral civilization is believed to have developed independently from other contemporary civilizations in India, Egypt, Sumeria, and China.

Leading the research, Dr. Ruth Shady emphasized that the discovery of Peñico is vital for understanding the evolution of the Caral civilization post-climate crises. Dr. Shady noted that Peñico’s strategic location enabled trade and cultural exchange among coastal, highland, and jungle societies. At a news conference, archaeologist Marco Machacuay, affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, remarked on Peñico's significance as a continuation of the Caral society.

Peru is a rich tapestry of immense archaeological significance, housing seminal discoveries like the renowned Inca citadel of Machu Picchu and the enigmatic Nazca Lines etched into the arid landscape along the central coast.