Desk Report,
3,500-year-old trading city discovered in Peru
An ancient city that flourished as a trading center more than 3,500 years ago has been discovered in Peru. Archaeologists have discovered the ancient city of Penico.
3,500-year-old trading city discovered in Peru
The city of Penico is located in the Huaora province, north of the Peruvian capital Lima. The Peruvian Ministry of Culture announced this information in a press release.
After eight years of excavation and conservation, the archaeological site was officially inaugurated last week with detailed descriptions of the site. It was later opened to the public.
Experts believe that Penico was founded around 1800 BC. It was a strategic urban center that connected the coastal population of the Supe Valley with settlements in the Andes Mountains and the interior of the Amazon. The city was built at an altitude of 600 meters above sea level, the country’s Ministry of Culture said. “This urban center follows the traditions of the Caral culture,” said Ruth Shady, lead researcher and director of the Caral Archaeological Zone (ZAC) under the Ministry of Culture. Due to its strategic location, it connected the people of the Andean-Amazonian and highland regions, including the coasts of Supe and Huaora, the mountain cities, and the Andes. The press release said that about 18 structures have been identified at Penico so far. These include government buildings and residential buildings.
One of the most notable structures is a large government building called B1-B3. From this building, archaeologists have discovered clay sculptures, ritual instruments, and conch shell musical instruments called ‘pututus’. These musical instruments were used in the ancient Andean region to call people together and invoke the gods.
An ancient city that flourished as a trading center more than 3,500 years ago has been discovered in Peru. Archaeologists have discovered the ancient city of Penico.
The city of Penico is located in the Huaora province, north of the Peruvian capital Lima. The Peruvian Ministry of Culture announced this information in a press release.
After eight years of excavation and conservation, the archaeological site was officially inaugurated last week with detailed descriptions of the site. It was later opened to the public.
Experts believe that Penico was founded around 1800 BC. It was a strategic urban center that connected the coastal population of the Supe Valley with settlements in the Andes Mountains and the interior of the Amazon. The city was built at an altitude of 600 meters above sea level, the country’s Ministry of Culture said. “This urban center follows the traditions of the Caral culture,” said Ruth Shady, lead researcher and director of the Caral Archaeological Zone (ZAC) under the Ministry of Culture. Due to its strategic location, it connected the people of the Andean-Amazonian and highland regions, including the coasts of Supe and Huaora, the mountain cities, and the Andes. The press release said that about 18 structures have been identified at Penico so far. These include government buildings and residential buildings.
One of the most notable structures is a large government building called B1-B3. From this building, archaeologists have discovered clay sculptures, ritual instruments, and conch shell musical instruments called ‘pututus’. These musical instruments were used in the ancient Andean region to call people together and invoke the gods.
