About Ancient City of Penico:
- It is a 3,500-year-old lost city located in present-day Peru.
- Located some 200 km north of Lima (capital of Peru) in the Barranca province, the site lies about 600 metres (1,970 feet) above sea level and is thought to have been founded between 1,800 and 1,500 BC-around the same time that early civilisations were flourishing in the Middle East and Asia.
- Penico is situated close to where Caral, recognised as the oldest known civilisation in the Americas, was established 5,000 years ago, at around 3,000 BC, in the Supe Valley of Peru.
- Peñico's importance lies in it being the continuation of the Caral society.
- The 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.
- The height at which the structures were found suggests the ancient city’s settlers strategically chose the location, likely to enhance the monumentality of their buildings, protect themselves from floods and landslides, or to promote interaction and exchange.
- Peñico is believed to have served as a key trading hub connecting early Pacific coast communities with those living in the Andes mountains and Amazon basin.
