Latest news with #CaralCivilization
The Independent
3 days ago
- Science
- The Independent
The 3,500 year-old lost city that thrived during the time of Ancient Egypt
Archaeologists have unearthed a lost city named Peñico in Peru 's northern Barranca province, which thrived 3,500 years ago, contemporary with ancient Egyptian and Sumerian civilisations. This ancient city likely served as a vital trading hub, connecting coastal South America to the mountainous Andes region through dense forests, developing independently of other early civilisations. Its strategic location at 600 metres above sea level facilitated trade and exchange, and its discovery is crucial for understanding South American history, potentially emerging after the Caral civilisation. Researchers have uncovered 18 constructions, including public and residential buildings, with drone footage revealing new structures parallel to the Caral-Supe pre-Columbian society. Notable findings include a building with sculptural reliefs featuring conch shell musical horns, known as pututus, which were used for long-distance communication and ritual offerings, alongside clay sculptures and ceremonial objects.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Science
- 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.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Archaeologists in Peru unveil 3,500-year-old city that linked coast and Andes
Archaeologists unveil Peñico, a city that thrived 3,500 years ago, linking Pacific coast cultures with those in the Amazon. Archaeologists on Thursday unveiled a 3,500-year-old city in Peru that likely served as a trading hub linking Pacific coast cultures with those in the Andes and Amazon, flourishing around the same time as early civilizations in the Middle East and Asia. Drone footage released by researchers shows the city center is marked by a circular structure on a hillside terrace, with remains of stone and mud buildings constructed some 600 meters (1,970 feet) above sea level. The urban center, named Peñico, is located in the northern Barranca province and was founded between 1,800 and 1,500 BC. It is close to where the Caral civilization, the oldest in the Americas, developed 5,000 years ago. Caral, comprised of 32 monumental structures, is considered a contemporary of civilizations in Egypt, India, Sumeria and China. However, unlike them, it developed in complete isolation, according to researchers. Ruth Shady, the archaeologist who led the research into Peñico, said the newly unveiled city is key because experts believe it emerged after the Caral civilization was devastated by climate change. "They were situated in a strategic location for trade, for exchange with societies from the coast, the highlands and the jungle," Shady said. Archaeologist Marco Machacuay, a researcher with the Ministry of Culture, said at a news conference that Peñico's importance lies in it being the continuation of the Caral society. After eight years of studies, researchers have identified up to 18 structures in Penico, including ceremonial temples and residential complexes. The walls of a central plaza stand out for their sculptural reliefs and depictions of the pututu, a conch shell trumpet whose sound carries over long distances. In other buildings, researchers found clay sculptures of human and animal figures, ceremonial objects and necklaces made from beads and seashells, they added. Peru is a center of ancient cultures and home to archaeological sites such as the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu in Cusco and the mysterious Nazca lines located in the desert region along the country's central coast.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Remains of 5,000-year-old high-society woman, prestigious offerings discovered in Peru
Archaeologists in Peru have discovered the remains of a woman from an ancient civilization. The discovery was made within an archaeological site known as Áspero, an ancient fishing town during the Caral civilization, which existed 3,800-5,000 years ago from 3000-1800 BC. Peru's Ministry of Culture announced the discovery on Thursday. The woman's body was exceptionally preserved, with hair, skin and nails still visibile. The ministry said usually only skeletal remains are found in this area. See It: Egypt Uncovers Ancient Pharaoh's Tomb For First Time In Over 100 Years She was estimated to be between 20-35 years old at the time of her death. The ministry said the woman's body was wrapped in cotton fabrics, rush mats and other materials, as well as a panel embroidered with macaw feathers, arranged delicately in a net, on bundles of plant fibers. A headdress made of fibers with bundles of twisted threads was placed on top of the woman's remains, the ministry said. Some of the prestigious offerings found within the lower space of the woman's burial site include: Four reed baskets A needle with incised designs An Amazonian snail shell A toucan's beak inlaid with green and brown beads A wool textile A fishing net About 30 sweet potatoes and weaving tools Dozens Of Bottles Of Cherries Found By Archeologists At The Home Of The United States' First President The ministry said all the items, along with the treatment of the remains, indicate that the woman was of a high social status at the time of her death. The embroidered panel of macaw feathers is one of the oldest examples of art found in the Andes. Specialists highlight this discovery as an indicator of the high level of development of specialized techniques during the Caral Civilization, the ministry said. The ministry said a team is investigating aspects related to the woman's health, death and diet, as well as the origin and use of the objects found with her remains. This discovery is similar to other elite burials found in Áspero in 2016 and 2019, the ministry article source: Remains of 5,000-year-old high-society woman, prestigious offerings discovered in Peru
