Archaeologists in Peru have discovered an ancient city dating back nearly 3,500 years, named Pénico. Experts believe the city once served as a commercial hub connecting ancient societies from the coastal region, the Andes mountains, and the Amazon rainforest.
Situated about 200 miles north of the capital Lima, Pénico lies on the slopes of a mountain in Barranca province, approximately 1,970 feet above sea level. Researchers estimate its age to be between 1,800 and 1,500 BCE, a period when ancient civilizations were flourishing in Egypt, India, Sumer, and China.
Drone footage has revealed a circular structure at the center of Pénico, surrounded by the ruins of stone and adobe buildings. This architectural style shows striking similarities to that of Caral, another ancient city in Peru. Caral is considered the oldest known civilization in the Americas, and Pénico is located just 17 miles east of it.
Researchers suspect that Pénico may have developed as a successor city after Caral collapsed due to climate change. The Caral civilization emerged about 5,000 years ago and, while contemporaneous with ancient Egypt, India, and Sumer, is thought to have developed independently.
The discovery of Pénico was led by renowned archaeologist Ruth Shady, who also directed the excavations at Caral in the 1990s. She explained, “Pénico is crucial for understanding how the legacy of Caral continued after its collapse. This city functioned as a center for commercial exchange between the coast, mountains, and jungle.”
Marco Machacuay, an archaeologist with Peru’s Ministry of Culture, stated that the Caral civilization likely collapsed around 1,800 BCE due to droughts and floods. Following this decline, Pénico appears to have been established. Over nearly eight years of research, archaeologists have identified 18 significant structures in Pénico, including religious temples, residential buildings, and walls adorned with carvings and decorations.
Within the central courtyard of this ancient city, researchers discovered images of the “pututu,” a type of conch-shell trumpet used in religious ceremonies and capable of producing sounds audible over long distances. Experts believe that the pututu may have symbolized power and authority in Pénico’s society.
Other findings throughout the city include human skeletons, clay sculptures of humans and animals, religious artifacts, and necklaces made from marine shells. These artifacts reflect the intertwined cultural influences of coastal, highland, and rainforest regions, providing clear evidence that Pénico was a major trade center of its time.
Yoshio Kano, spokesperson for the Caral archaeological site, noted, “We have found evidence of trade between Pénico and not only the Supe Valley but also the Huaura Valley. Additionally, there are indications of long-distance connections and integration with the mountainous and jungle regions.”
On July 3, 2025, Pénico was officially opened to tourists. Digital reconstructions of the city’s religious sites now allow visitors to visualize how the city might have appeared at the height of its grandeur.
It is worth noting that Peru is also home to the famous Machu Picchu of the Inca Empire and the mysterious Nazca Lines. While Machu Picchu was constructed in the 15th century, Pénico predates it by nearly a thousand years. The Nazca Lines were created roughly between 200 BCE and 500 CE.
Source: The Telegraph.