Moche

expand_more Description

The Moche tradition was located on the north coast of Peru inland to the Andean foothills, from the Piura to Huarmey valleys, and dates from 1950–1200 BP (AD 50–800). The Moche people were sedentary agriculturalists who formed multiple independent polities within two regional subtraditions, North and South, with a common religious ideology. In parallel with differences in personal status, there was a hierarchy of settlement types. Major centers featured monumental adobe structures with painted friezes and murals. Their economy was based on irrigation agriculture supplemented with animal husbandry, marine fishing, and some gathering and hunting. They were master metalsmiths in copper, silver and gold, and they created high quality painted pottery, including figurines. Ancestor worship was important and warfare celebrated. In addition to their political duties the nobility acted as priests for public ceremonies.

Identifier

Region

• South America

Subregion

• Central Andes

Subsistence Type

• other subsistence combinations

Countries

• Peru