essay

The third man: identity and rulership in Moche archaeology and visual culture

art and archaeology of the moche : an ancient andean society of the peruvian north coastAustin • Published In 2008 • Pages: 263-288

By: Bourget, Steve.

Abstract
The author explores the ritual and social identity of the "Old Lord of Sipán" from Tomb 3 at the Lambayeque Valley site. The ritual paraphernalia buried with the approximately fifty year old male are described, and compared to representations of remarkably similar items in Moche art. It is concluded that the interred individual was the one identified in the iconography as Individual D of the Sacrifice Ceremony, who is associated with a round, gold rattle-chisel. Additional items from the tomb point to an association with maritime subjects, spiders and, perhaps, El Niño events. Evidence from other tombs that high-ranking individuals inherited their roles is discussed, along with Moche state formation and the legitimatization of power.
Subjects
Special garments
Paraphernalia
Status, role, and prestige
Classes
Chief executive
Burial practices and funerals
Prayers and sacrifices
Priesthood
Organized ceremonial
Ethnometeorology
Ethnogeography
Ethnozoology
tradition
Moche
HRAF PubDate
2015
Region
South America
Sub Region
Central Andes
Document Type
essay
Evaluation
Creator Type
Archaeologist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
Analyst
Sarah Berry; 2013
Field Date
not specified
Coverage Date
2000-1200 BP (AD 1- 800)
Coverage Place
Piura, Lambayeque, La Libertad and Ancash regions (north coast), Peru
Notes
Steve Bourget
Includes bibliographical references (p. 287-288)
LCCN
2008027539
LCSH
Moche (Peru)--Antiquities