Huaca+De+La+Luna

=Huaca De La Luna=

Here is an outline of Huaca De La Luna. This is a three platform structure that was interconnected with high roofs and adobe walls. There are intricate polychrome murals covered along the walls within the huaca, however El Nino, a reocurring massive storm, has destroyed many of these walls.**To the left** is one of the last in tact walls within the Huaca de la Luna. There have been multiple stages of construction, this correlates with the destructive El Nino rainfall.

Recent excavations have found that this site was used to conduct ritualistic ceremonies in which the Moche would commit sacrifices and toss the dead bodies down a nearby hillside. Archaeologists have found more than a dozen bodies of adult males, all appear to have died from violent acts. The rituals have been dipicted on Moche iconography. It is unclear how many different rituals were held here. One theory suggests that the sacrificial victims were actually **local elites** that fought in a ritualistic battle to the death. High ranking individuals have been found wearing metal ornaments, pectorals, and bracelets within the Huaca de la Luna. Many of these decorations have been stylized to represent Moche beliefs using art and images of certain animals. The most important animals appear due to El Nino conditions, such as the Peruvian eagle ray, and crabs. These animals are also found on ritualistic artifacts. Some of these images may include fish, Another theory suggests that the victims were **foreign warriors** that had ben captured by the Moche and were forced to be sacrificed. All of these bodies were found at plaza 3C. (Bourget 2007:198-199)

The murals and freizes that were found within the Huaca de la Luna are believed to be motifs that depict warfare, ritual decapitation, Moche gods and goddesses and geometric shapes. (Bourget 2007:199) Perhaps the most common and important figure along the motifs on the walls was "Ayapec." **To the right** is Ayapec or the Decapitator god. Surrounding Ayapec are stylized catfish. In some depictions Ayapec ressembles a squid or spider-like animal. Most of the images found within the Huaca de la Luna are associated with the changing conditions that El Nino brings.