Archaeologists announce discovery of a 3500 -year -old city in Peru

Archaeologists discovered in northern Peru the traces of an ancient city of about 3500 years, called Peñico, which played a central role in the commercial routes between the coastal communities of the Pacific, the Andes and the Amazon Basin. Located in the province of Baranca, about 200 kilometers from Lima and 600 meters altitude, it is believed that this city was founded between 1800 and 1500 BC, contemporary of the first civilizations of Asia and the Middle East.

The team led by archaeologist Ruth Shady, who also coordinated the excavations of Caral civilization in the 1990s, considers the essential discovery to understand Caral’s fate, the oldest civilization in the Americas, established about 3000 BC in the Valley of Super, not far from there. According to Shady, Peñico occupied a strategic point for commerce, allowing the exchange of products between coastal, mountainous and forest regions.

Over the course of eight years of excavations, researchers identified 18 structures, including ceremonial temples and residential complexes. Several ritual objects, clay sculptures representing human and animal figures, and necklaces made of shells and accounts were also found. Aerial images show a circular structure on a central terrace, surrounded by traces of stone and clay constructions.

This discovery reinforces the importance of Peru as one of the great archaeological centers of the American continent, where there are already iconic places such as Machu Picchu and the enigmatic Nazca lines.