Latest news with #Caral
Yomiuri Shimbun
4 days ago
- Science
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Archaeologists Unveil 3,500-year-old City That Linked Coast, Andes
LIMA (Reuters) — Archaeologists on July 3 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 above sea urban center, named Penico, is located in the northern Barranca Province and was founded between 1,800 B.C. and 1,500 B.C. 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 Penico, 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 Penico'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.
Al Jazeera
15-07-2025
- Science
- Al Jazeera
Photos: Peru reopens 3,800-year-old Penico archaeological site for visitors
Published On 15 Jul 2025 15 Jul 2025 A 3,800-year-old citadel of the Caral civilisation – one of the world's oldest – has reopened for visitors in Peru after eight years of comprehensive restoration and research. Researchers have identified the Penico archaeological site as a vital trading centre that connected early Pacific coastal communities with those in the Andes and Amazon regions. Located in the Supe Valley, about 180km (110 miles) north of Lima and only 19km (12 miles) from the Pacific Ocean, Penico was an unremarkable hilly landscape until excavations commenced in 2017. Archaeologists believe the site could provide crucial information about the enigmatic collapse of the Caral civilisation, which flourished between 3,000 and 1,800 BC. The opening ceremony featured regional artists playing pututus – traditional shell trumpets – as part of an ancient ritual honouring Pachamama, Mother Earth, with ceremonial offerings of agricultural products, coca leaves, and local beverages. 'Penico was an organised urban centre devoted to agriculture and trade between the coast, the mountains and the forest,' archaeologist Ruth Shady, who leads research at the site, told the AFP news agency. She said the settlement dates to between 1,800 and 1,500 BC. The site demonstrates sophisticated planning, strategically built on a geological terrace 600 metres (2,000ft) above sea level and parallel to a river to avoid flooding. Research by the Peruvian Ministry of Culture has uncovered 18 distinct structures, including public buildings and residential complexes. Scholars believe Penico was built during the same period as the earliest civilisations in the Middle East and Asia. According to Shady, researchers hope the site will shed light on the crisis they believe hastened the Caral civilisation's decline. This crisis, she explained, was linked to climate change that caused droughts and disrupted agricultural activities throughout the region. 'We want to understand how the Caral civilisation formed and developed over time, and how it came to be in crisis as a result of climate change,' she said.
Kuwait Times
14-07-2025
- General
- Kuwait Times
Peruvian citadel that is nearly 4,000 years old opens doors to tourists
This handout picture shows the citadel of Peñico, located in the province of Huaura, Lima department, Peru. After 8 years of research, it will be opened to the public.--AFP photos To the music of conch shell trumpets, a 3,800-year-old citadel of the Caral civilization -- one of the oldest in the world -- opened its doors to visitors in Peru on Saturday, after eight years of study and restoration work. The archaeological site, known as Penico, was a meeting point for trade between the first human communities on the Pacific coast and those from the Andes and Amazon regions, researchers have said. Located in the Supe valley, some 110 miles (180 kilometers) north of the Peruvian capital Lima and around 12 miles from the Pacific ocean, Penico was a hilly landscape before exploration work began in 2017. Archaeologists believe it could hold insights into why the Caral civilization -- which flourished between 3,000 and 1,800 BC -- faded. This handout picture shows the citadel of Peñico, located in the province of Huaura, Lima department, Peru. After 8 years of research, it will be opened to the public. Aerial view of the citadel of Penico, located in the province of Huaura, Lima Department, Peru. Aerial view of the citadel of Penico, located in the province of Huaura, Lima Department, Peru. People visit the citadel of Penico, located in the province of Huaura, Lima Department, Peru. Aerial view of the citadel of Penico, located in the province of Huaura, Lima Department, Peru. Aerial view of the citadel of Penico, located in the province of Huaura, Lima Department, Peru. At the opening ceremony, artists from the region played pututus -- the traditional shell trumpets -- during an ancestral ritual offering to the Pachamama, Mother Earth, consisting of agricultural products, coca leaves and local drinks. Penico was an 'organized urban center devoted to agriculture and trade between the coast, the mountains and the forest,' archaeologist Ruth Shady, who leads research on the site, told AFP. The site itself dates back to between 1,800 and 1,500 BC, she added. It was built on a geological terrace 2,000 feet (600 meters) above sea level, parallel to a river to avoid flooding. Research carried out by the Peruvian Ministry of Culture has identified 18 constructions, including buildings and residential complexes. Researchers believe that it was built at the same time as the first civilizations in the Middle East and Asia. Shady said researchers are hoping the site can shed light on the crisis they think helped hasten the end of the Caral civilization. This crisis, she said, was linked to climatic changes that led to droughts and affected agricultural activities in the region. 'We want to understand how the Caral civilization formed and developed over time, and how it came to be in crisis as a result of climate change,' she added.—AFP
Khaleej Times
13-07-2025
- Science
- Khaleej Times
Peruvian citadel that is nearly 4,000 years old opens doors to tourists
To the music of conch shell trumpets, a 3,800-year-old citadel of the Caral civilization -- one of the oldest in the world -- opened its doors to visitors in Peru on Saturday, after eight years of study and restoration work. The archaeological site, known as Penico, was a meeting point for trade between the first human communities on the Pacific coast and those from the Andes and Amazon regions, researchers have said. Located in the Supe valley, some 110 miles (180 kilometers) north of the Peruvian capital Lima and around 12 miles from the Pacific ocean, Penico was a hilly landscape before exploration work began in 2017. Archaeologists believe it could hold insights into why the Caral civilization -- which flourished between 3,000 and 1,800 BC -- faded. At the opening ceremony, artists from the region played pututus -- the traditional shell trumpets -- during an ancestral ritual offering to the Pachamama, Mother Earth, consisting of agricultural products, coca leaves and local drinks. Penico was an "organized urban center devoted to agriculture and trade between the coast, the mountains and the forest," archaeologist Ruth Shady, who leads research on the site, told AFP. The site itself dates back to between 1,800 and 1,500 BC, she added. It was built on a geological terrace 2000 feet (600 meters) above sea level, parallel to a river to avoid flooding. Research carried out by the Peruvian Ministry of Culture has identified 18 constructions, including buildings and residential complexes. Researchers believe that it was built at the same time as the first civilizations in the Middle East and Asia. Shady said researchers are hoping the site can shed light on the crisis they think helped hasten the end of the Caral civilization. This crisis, she said, was linked to climatic changes that led to droughts and affected agricultural activities in the region. "We want to understand how the Caral civilization formed and developed over time, and how it came to be in crisis as a result of climate change," she added.
Malay Mail
13-07-2025
- Science
- Malay Mail
Peru opens 3,800-year-old Caral citadel Penico to visitors after eight years of study and restoration
CARAL, July 13 — To the music of conch shell trumpets, a 3,800-year-old citadel of the Caral civilization—one of the oldest in the world—opened its doors to visitors in Peru yesterday, after eight years of study and restoration work. The archaeological site, known as Penico, was a meeting point for trade between the first human communities on the Pacific coast and those from the Andes and Amazon regions, researchers have said. Located in the Supe valley, some 110 miles (180 kilometers) north of the Peruvian capital Lima and around 12 miles from the Pacific ocean, Penico was a hilly landscape before exploration work began in 2017. Archaeologists believe it could hold insights into why the Caral civilization—which flourished between 3,000 and 1,800 BC—faded. At the opening ceremony, artists from the region played pututus—the traditional shell trumpets—during an ancestral ritual offering to the Pachamama, Mother Earth, consisting of agricultural products, coca leaves and local drinks. Penico was an 'organized urban center devoted to agriculture and trade between the coast, the mountains and the forest,' archaeologist Ruth Shady, who leads research on the site, told AFP. The site itself dates back to between 1,800 and 1,500 BC, she added. It was built on a geological terrace 2000 feet (600 meters) above sea level, parallel to a river to avoid flooding. Research carried out by the Peruvian Ministry of Culture has identified 18 constructions, including buildings and residential complexes. Researchers believe that it was built at the same time as the first civilizations in the Middle East and Asia. Shady said researchers are hoping the site can shed light on the crisis they think helped hasten the end of the Caral civilization. This crisis, she said, was linked to climatic changes that led to droughts and affected agricultural activities in the region. 'We want to understand how the Caral civilization formed and developed over time, and how it came to be in crisis as a result of climate change,' she added. — AFP
