Peru’s Ministry of Culture has announced plans to construct and launch a national museum, with work to start this year and the new facility to be open by May 2016.

To be built in the Pachacamac Sanctuary, which is situated around 40km (25m) south of the Peruvian capital of Lima, the National Museum of Peru will break ground as soon as archaeological studies taking place in the area are completed.

The Pachacamac Sanctuary is a religious and administrative centre that houses historic palaces, squares and temples. It was constructed over centuries by several different cultures, including the Huari and Ichma with the oldest structures dating back to around 800 BC.

Announcing the plans, Peru’s culture minister, Diana Alvarez Calderon, said: “Finally Peru will have the museum that everybody has been waiting for,” though she did not elaborate on further details such as cost and design. Upon its 2016 launch, the museum will not be fully open, though several exhibitions will be available to visitors.