Ancient city Peñico discovered in Peru sheds light on Caral civilisation’s legacy

Archaeologists in Peru have announced the discovery of an ancient city believed to be a key link in the development of early civilisations in the Americas.

The newly uncovered site, named Peñico, is estimated to be 3,500 years old and located in Peru’s northern Barranca province, roughly 200 kilometres north of Lima, Caliber.Az reports via BBC.

Experts say Peñico once served as a major trading hub, connecting coastal Pacific societies with highland Andean communities and those living in the Amazon basin. Positioned approximately 600 metres above sea level, the city is believed to have been founded between 1,800 and 1,500 BC—contemporary with the emergence of early civilisations in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Indus Valley.

Drone footage released by the research team reveals a circular structure on a hillside terrace at the centre of the city, surrounded by remnants of stone and mud buildings. Over eight years of excavation work at the site, researchers unearthed 18 structures, including ceremonial temples and residential complexes.

Among the discoveries were ceremonial objects, clay sculptures of human and animal figures, and intricate necklaces made of beads and seashells—artifacts that offer a window into the daily life and spiritual practices of the ancient community.

Peñico lies near the famed Caral complex, the oldest known civilisation in the Americas, which was established around 3,000 BC in the nearby Supe valley. Caral is known for its monumental architecture, including pyramids and urban settlements, and is believed to have developed independently of other early civilisations in Asia and the Middle East.

Dr Ruth Shady, the archaeologist who led both the excavation of Caral in the 1990s and the recent research into Peñico, described the discovery as a crucial piece in understanding the fate of the Caral civilisation, which is believed to have collapsed due to climate change.

The Peñico community was "situated in a strategic location for trade, for exchange with societies from the coast, the highlands and the jungle,” Dr Shady told Reuters.

Marco Machacuay, a researcher with Peru’s Ministry of Culture, said at a press conference that Peñico’s significance lies in its role as a continuation of the Caral culture, offering evidence that elements of the civilisation survived and evolved after Caral's decline.

Peru continues to be a rich source of archaeological discoveries, home to iconic sites such as Machu Picchu and the Nazca Lines. The revelation of Peñico adds to the country’s legacy as a cradle of ancient American civilisations and deepens global understanding of prehistoric cultural development in the region.

By Vugar Khalilov