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Peru Opens 3,500-Year-Old Peñico Ruins Ahead of Inaugural Peñico Raymi Festival

The site now features visitor facilities and guided routes ahead of mid-July ceremonies to honor the earth goddess

Aerial view of the archaeological zone in the northern Barranca province as archaeologists on Thursday 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, in the northern Barranca province, Peru in this undated handout photo released on July 3, 2025. Caral Archaeological Zone/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES
Experts believe Peñico, founded around 1800 BC, served as a strategic urban center, linking the coastal communities of the Supe Valley with settlements in the high Andes and Amazon.
Image
Image of Penico, from the Peruvian Ministry of Culture.

Overview

  • Peñico, founded around 1800 BCE in Huaura province, opened to the public on July 3 after eight years of excavation led by Dr. Ruth Shady.
  • Eighteen structures have been mapped, including public halls and residential units accessible via new walking routes and an interpretation center.
  • Excavations revealed clay sculptures, ceremonial tools and conch-shell pututu trumpets in a key monumental building.
  • Archaeologists say Peñico once linked coastal Supe Valley communities with highland and Amazon settlements through trade and ritual exchange.
  • The first Peñico Raymi festival on July 12 will feature traditional offerings and ceremonies honoring Pachamama, marking the site’s launch as a living heritage destination.