Archaeologists discover 3,500-year-old city in Peru
Drone footage released by researchers shows a circular structure on a hillside terrace at the city's centre, surrounded by the remains of stone and mud buildings. Eight years of research at the site unearthed 18 structures, including ceremonial temples and residential complexes.In buildings at the site, researchers discovered ceremonial objects, clay sculptures of human and animal figures and necklaces made from beads and seashells.Peñico is situated close to where Caral, recognised as the oldest known civilisation in the Americas, was established 5,000 years ago at around 3,000 BC in the Supe valley of Peru. Caral features 32 monuments, including large pyramid structures, sophisticated irrigation agriculture and urban settlements. It is believed to have developed in isolation to other comparative early civilisations in India, Egypt, Sumeria and China.Dr Ruth Shady, the archaeologist who led the recent research into Peñico and the excavation of Caral in the 1990s, said that the discovery was important for understanding what became of the Caral civilisation after it was decimated by 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 the Reuters news agency.At a news conference unveiling the findings on Thursday, archaeologist Marco Machacuay, a researcher with the Ministry of Culture, said that Peñico's significance lies in it being a continuation of the Caral society.Peru is home to many of the Americas' most significant archaeological discoveries, including the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in the Andes and the mysterious Nazca Lines etched into the desert along the central coast.
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The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Peru's 3,500-year-old lost city could change America's prehistory
Archaeologists have unearthed a lost city in Peru that thrived 3,500 years ago, likely as a potential contemporary of early human societies such as the ancient Egyptian and Sumerian civilisations of the Middle East. The ancient city, named Peñico, emerged independently of these other early civilisations, and likely thrived as a trading hub, connecting coastal South America to the mountainous Andes regions through dense forests. "This urban centre was developed following the cultural tradition of Caral,' said archaeologist Ruth Shady, director of the Caral Archaeological Zone. Researchers uncovered a circular structure on a hillside in Peru's northern Barranca province, including the remains of stone and mud buildings constructed at about 600m (1,970ft) above sea level around 1,800 and 1,500 BC. Scientists suspect the ancient city's inhabitants were connected to the Caral civilisation, the oldest in the Americas, which developed 5,000 years ago. Drone footage revealed the presence of new human-made structures running parallel to previously uncovered buildings of the Caral–Supe pre-Columbian society. The height at which the structures were found suggests the ancient city's settlers strategically chose the location likely to enhance the monumentality of their buildings, protect themselves from floods and landslides, or to promote interaction and exchange. "Peñico adds to the archaeological sites that can be visited under our management: the Sacred City of Caral, the fishing town of Áspero and the agricultural fishing city of Vichama. The public will also be able to get to know this city of integration," Dr Shady said. The city's discovery is key to further understanding South American history, according to archaeologists, who suspect it emerged after the Caral civilisation was devastated by climate change. Peñico also likely acted as a node in the exchange network, linked to the extraction and circulation of Iron mineral hematite used to make a red pigment with a high symbolic importance within Andean cosmology. "They were situated in a strategic location for trade, for exchange with societies from the coast, the highlands and the jungle," Dr Shady told Reuters. So far, 18 constructions have been unearthed in the ancient city site, including larger and minor public buildings, and residential complexes, Peru's Ministry of Culture said in a statement. One structure labelled "B2" stands out for its sculptural reliefs, integrated into two other large public Buildings of the urban centre. The building was found to have remarkable designs of conch shell musical horns called pututus, and other instruments represented on the walls of a quadrangular room. Pututus were used in early Andean societies to transmit sound over long distances, such as to make announcements for meetings and important events, and were considered a symbol of social importance. They were considered an important ritual offering to deities, in gratitude for the benefits required and received. Researchers also found other significant artefacts in the building, including sculptures made of uncooked clay representing human-like and animal-like figures as well as ceremonial objects. They also unearthed necklaces with beads of various materials like rhodochrosite, chrysola, animal bone and clay at the building site. The presence of such artefacts indicates the building was likely one of the most important in the urban history of Peñico.
Scottish Sun
8 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Incredible ancient lost city from 3,500-years-ago home to the Americas' oldest civilization uncovered in Peru
AN ANCIENT city that is over 3,500 years old has been unearthed in Peru. The ancient city of Peñico is thought to have been a vital link between early Pacific coast settlements and remote communities deep in the Andes and Amazon. 4 Aerial view of the archaeological zone in the northern Barranca province as archaeologists on Thursday unveiled a 3,500-year-old city in Peru Credit: Reuters 4 It is believed to date back to between 1,800 and 1,500 BC Credit: Reuters 4 Archaeologists say the discovery sheds light on what became of the Americas' oldest civilisation Credit: Reuters Located in the northern Barranca province - around 120 miles north of Lima - the site lies around 1,970 feet above sea level. It is believed to date back to between 1,800 and 1,500 BC - around the period that early civilisations were flourishing in the Middle East and Asia. Archaeologists say the discovery sheds light on what became of the Americas' oldest civilisation, the Caral. Incredible drone footage shows a circular structure on a hillside terrace at the city's centre - surrounded by the remains of stone and mud buildings. After eight years of research 18 structures were found including ceremonial temples and residential complexes. Objects were also discovered in buildings at the site including ceremonial objects, clay sculptures of human and animal figures and necklaces made from beads and seashells. Peñico is located close to where Caral was established 5,000 years ago in the Supe valley of Peru, around 3,000 BC. Recognised as the oldest known civilisation in the Americas, Caral features 32 monuments. This includes large pyramid structures, sophisticated irrigation agriculture and urban settlements. It is believed to have developed in isolation to other comparative early civilisations in India, Egypt, Sumeria and China. Ancient Pompeii home unseen for 2,000 YEARS finally unearthed Dr Ruth Shady, the archaeologist who led the recent research into Peñico and the excavation of Caral in the 1990s, said the discovery is crucial in knowing what happened after the Caral civilisation was decimated by climate change. She told the Reuters news agency that the Peñico community was "situated in a strategic location for trade, for exchange with societies from the coast, the highlands and the jungle." Archaeologist Marco Machacuay, a researcher with the Ministry of Culture, unveiled the findings at news conference on Thursday. He said that Peñico's importance lies in it being a continuation of the Caral society. Many of the Americas' most significant archaeological discoveries have been found in Peru. This includes the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in the Andes and the mysterious Nazca lines etched into the desert in southern Peru.
The Sun
8 hours ago
- The Sun
Incredible ancient lost city from 3,500-years-ago home to the Americas' oldest civilization uncovered in Peru
AN ANCIENT city that is over 3,500 years old has been unearthed in Peru. The ancient city of Peñico is thought to have been a vital link between early Pacific coast settlements and remote communities deep in the Andes and Amazon. 4 4 4 Located in the northern Barranca province - around 120 miles north of Lima - the site lies around 1,970 feet above sea level. It is believed to date back to between 1,800 and 1,500 BC - around the period that early civilisations were flourishing in the Middle East and Asia. Archaeologists say the discovery sheds light on what became of the Americas' oldest civilisation, the Caral. Incredible drone footage shows a circular structure on a hillside terrace at the city's centre - surrounded by the remains of stone and mud buildings. After eight years of research 18 structures were found including ceremonial temples and residential complexes. Objects were also discovered in buildings at the site including ceremonial objects, clay sculptures of human and animal figures and necklaces made from beads and seashells. Peñico is located close to where Caral was established 5,000 years ago in the Supe valley of Peru, around 3,000 BC. Recognised as the oldest known civilisation in the Americas, Caral features 32 monuments. This includes large pyramid structures, sophisticated irrigation agriculture and urban settlements. It is believed to have developed in isolation to other comparative early civilisations in India, Egypt, Sumeria and China. Ancient Pompeii home unseen for 2,000 YEARS finally unearthed Dr Ruth Shady, the archaeologist who led the recent research into Peñico and the excavation of Caral in the 1990s, said the discovery is crucial in knowing what happened after the Caral civilisation was decimated by climate change. She told the Reuters news agency that the Peñico community was "situated in a strategic location for trade, for exchange with societies from the coast, the highlands and the jungle." Archaeologist Marco Machacuay, a researcher with the Ministry of Culture, unveiled the findings at news conference on Thursday. He said that Peñico's importance lies in it being a continuation of the Caral society. Many of the Americas' most significant archaeological discoveries have been found in Peru. This includes the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in the Andes and the mysterious Nazca lines etched into the desert in southern Peru. 4
