An ancient Peruvian city that was a thriving hub of trade more than 3,000 years ago has been unveiled by archaeologists.

Peñico is located in the Huaura province, north of the capital Lima, according to the Ministry of Culture in a press release sent to CNN.

In what was the official opening to the public, details of the site were unveiled last week following eight years of excavation and conservation.

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. It was built 600 meters above sea level, the ministry said in the release.

“This urban center developed following the cultural tradition of the Caral,” said Ruth Shady, lead researcher and director of the Caral Archaeological Zone (ZAC), which is attached to Peru’s Ministry of Culture, in the release.