Why in news?
Peruvian archaeologists announced the discovery of an ancient urban centre called Penico in the Huaura province, about 150 km north of Lima. Dating back approximately 3,500 years, the site provides fresh insights into early Andean civilisation.
Features of the site
- Circular architecture: The settlement’s core contains a large circular structure about 30 metres wide, surrounded by stepped platforms and walls. Such circular plazas are characteristic of pre‑Ceramic Andean sites.
- Temples and plazas: Excavators uncovered ritual platforms, burnt offerings and finely crafted stone walls. A central plaza suggests communal gatherings and ceremonies.
- Artifacts: Pottery shards, gourds, gourds with incisions, carved bones and weaving tools hint at skilled craftsmanship and trade networks.
- Size and layout: The site spans roughly 30 hectares and sits on a ridge overlooking fertile valleys. Its layout shows planned urbanism with distinct residential and ceremonial zones.
Historical context
- Penico dates to the Late Pre‑Ceramic or Initial Period of Andean history (roughly 1800–1500 BC). It predates the better‑known Chavín culture.
- The discovery adds to a growing list of monumental complexes in the Supe‑Huaura valleys, including the famous Caral site. These sites reveal that complex societies with public architecture and long‑distance trade existed in Peru thousands of years before the Inca.
Significance
- Penico’s circular plaza sheds light on early Andean ceremonial practices and social organisation. The presence of temples and planned streets indicates an emerging urban culture.
- Archaeologists hope the site will help reconstruct the chronology of the region and understand how coastal and highland communities interacted.
- Preservation efforts are crucial as rapid urbanisation and looting threaten many archaeological sites in Peru.