The+Moche

=The Moche=

The Moche capital is found along the Northern coast of Peru at a site called Cerro Blanco. In the map **to the left** is an image of the Moche territory.

The Moche made a variety of ceramic vessels, some were deocrated with fine line painted imagery and others were molded into shapes and figures. All of the Moche ceramics are "stirrup-spout libation vessels." There are five phases of moche pottery, and for each phase there is a distinct spout. Through the expansion of Moche phase III ceramics along the coast of Peru we can determine approximately where the Moche territory was. (Chapdelaine 2001)

According to research done by Christopher Donnan, Moche art has been associated with mortuary rites. "The iconography was a means of symbolic ideological communication based upon a limited number of themes." (Mosely 2001:184)

Phases IV and V clearly depict religious scenes through fine line painting. The Moche are first shown engaged in a battle, then they have captured the enemies and are leading them to a trial. The Moche conducta trial and then a sacrifice ceremony begins and various Moche preists and preistesses particpate. The captured enemies have their throats slit and are sacrificed by the Moche. (Sutter 2005)

Interaction with the dead is complex among the Moche.