3,500 Years Buried: Ancient Trading City Unearthed in Peru

In a major archaeological breakthrough, Peruvian researchers have unveiled the ruins of a 3,500-year-old city named Peñico, located high in the Barranca province north of Lima.

Built centuries before the rise of the Inca Empire, the site served as a vital link between coastal, mountain, and jungle communities. Drone footage reveals a circular ceremonial hall and the remains of stone and clay buildings perched on a hillside 600 meters above sea level.

According to archaeologists, Peñico likely rose in the aftermath of a devastating climate collapse that affected the nearby Caral civilization, known as the oldest in the Americas.

Artifacts uncovered at the site, including shell instruments and food remains, suggest a vibrant trading and ritual culture that helped the region recover from environmental disaster. Researchers believe Peñico fills a historical gap between the collapse of early civilizations like Caral and the later rise of the Inca.