4,000-year-old ancient city discovered in Peru

2025-07-21 18:30:00, Kuriozitete CNA

Located just 12 kilometers from the Sacred City of Caral-Supe in present-day Peru, Peñico flourished between 1800 BC and 1500 BC, roughly the same time as the Shang Dynasty in China and the Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt.

The discovery of the ancient city, announced earlier this month, was the result of eight years of research led by archaeologist Ruth Shady. The site opened to the public on July 12, revealing its profound historical value as part of a crucial effort to understand Peru's complex pre-Columbian societies and challenge deeply held myths about them.

4,000-year-old ancient city discovered in Peru

For centuries, it was mistakenly believed that pre-Columbian civilizations were static, small, nomadic, and culturally backward. However, modern archaeological discoveries demonstrate the existence of complex societies with advanced agricultural and architectural systems, as well as extensive knowledge of ecology, astronomy, and mathematics before the arrival of Europeans on the continent. Peñico is a testament to this sophistication.

4,000-year-old ancient city discovered in Peru

The city's strategic location at 600 meters above sea level, on a geological terrace next to the Supe River and surrounded by mountains, was no coincidence . The local architects, heirs of the Caral traditions, built it there to emphasize the monumental size of their structures, to protect against floods and landslides and, most importantly, to promote trade. This allowed Peñico to function as a key connection point between the Peruvian coast and the highlands, bringing together pre-Inca cultures as well as communities from the Andean-Amazonian territories and the high Andean areas of the region.

4,000-year-old ancient city discovered in Peru

Research suggests that the site flourished after the fall of the city of Caral, using the economic dynamics and social interaction networks that had already been strengthened in earlier periods to achieve its own prestige. Shady, who also led the excavation of Caral more than 30 years ago, notes that Peñico helps answer questions about the fate of the Caral civilization after its decline as a result of climate change./CNA