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murals depicting Ayapaeka
Mochika Culture, near Trujillo
Pre-Chimu were the Mochis who date back to 100 AD. Two of their temples, including Huaca de la Luna weren’t uncovered until very recently in 1990. The site is nearby Trujillo in the shadow of the Mountain Blanco, which they believed protected their settlement. A Mochika town is being excavated between the two temples. The Mochika were a more ‘brutal’ culture, sacrificing the weaker members of their community to their main God, Ayapaeka (who appears depicted on all the walls) and to the moon.
Pre-Chimu were the Mochis who date back to 100 AD. Two of their temples, including Huaca de la Luna weren’t uncovered until very recently in 1990. The site is nearby Trujillo in the shadow of the Mountain Blanco, which they believed protected their settlement. A Mochika town is being excavated between the two temples. The Mochika were a more ‘brutal’ culture, sacrificing the weaker members of their community to their main God, Ayapaeka (who appears depicted on all the walls) and to the moon.
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relief depicting Moche people being led to be sacrificed
Many human remains were found in the sacrificial pit, having had their throats slit for consumption of their blood and their bodies butchered. It is notable that a female ruler was excavated entombed holding double weapons, tattooed on all limbs, bejeweled with 32 nose ornaments and displaying stretch marks to indicate she had been with child.
The Mochika culture and Chimu culture unfortunately had no written language so it’s difficult to interpret all the evidence associated with them. They did, however use the art of pottery to convey everyday life, including their fascinations with physical disfigurement and disabilities. It is fascinating to see the colourful decoration still intact in the temple, the most impressive of which is centred round the priest and priestess’ ceremonial room where they would perform the ritualistic drinking of human blood in front of the crowds of Moches, watching below.
Our guide, Edith, explains that this is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of the richness of archaeological history in Peru. Further to the north they have only recently discovered the remains of the Carral culture. We will be faced with Macchu Picchu soon, seat of the Incas, but it is worthwhile to remember that they came about only at the very end of a long line of fascinating Peruvian cultures.
The Mochika culture and Chimu culture unfortunately had no written language so it’s difficult to interpret all the evidence associated with them. They did, however use the art of pottery to convey everyday life, including their fascinations with physical disfigurement and disabilities. It is fascinating to see the colourful decoration still intact in the temple, the most impressive of which is centred round the priest and priestess’ ceremonial room where they would perform the ritualistic drinking of human blood in front of the crowds of Moches, watching below.
Our guide, Edith, explains that this is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of the richness of archaeological history in Peru. Further to the north they have only recently discovered the remains of the Carral culture. We will be faced with Macchu Picchu soon, seat of the Incas, but it is worthwhile to remember that they came about only at the very end of a long line of fascinating Peruvian cultures.
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