A five-meter-high brick arch has been unearthed just a few meters from the Government Palace, at the southern end of Trujillo Bridge in Lima's Historic Center. According to archaeological research led by the
, these remains are believed to be from a 16th-century bridge built to connect the city with Rimac River's northern bank.
In 1610, that brick bridge was replaced by the iconic stone bridge, whose foundations have been identified by specialists as well.
During the research, specialists also found English porcelain plates, 16th-century silver coins, and various stone elements with Latin inscriptions.
"The Puente de Piedra is one of Lima's oldest constructions. It has remained buried for centuries, and inside, we have found a variety of objects, such as ceramics, amphorae, porcelain, silver coins, and other items (…)," Prolima's General Manager Luis Martin Bogdanovich stated.
"Our goal is to connect the mill arches with the stone arch, leading us towards the Parque de la Muralla, and later reconstruct the old entrance arch to city of Lima, which was destroyed by a fire in 1879. This is a highly complex archaeological project," he highlighted.
As part of this project, Prolima identified the base of one of the pillars of the ancient bridge arch, a historic 17th-century structure that served as an entrance to Ciudad de los Reyes (City of Kings) until it was destroyed by a fire in 1879.
Additionally, these findings have helped pinpoint its original location and orientation.
In line with the recovery of Lima's Historic Center, Prolima has developed a project to restore the bridge arch based on historical evidence and field data, aiming to return one of the city's most significant architectural landmarks to the Peruvian capital.
The plan includes the establishment of an information hall and a viewpoint overlooking the Rimac River and the Cercado de Lima, taking advantage of the site's strategic location, according to officials.
