What is the Moche civilization known for?

The Moche civilization of Peru is particularly known for its vibrant and naturalistic art in pottery and metalwork.

Who were the Moche and where did they settle?

The Moche was a confederation of small states in the ancient Andes. They flourished along the northern coast and valleys of what is today Peru, in particular, in the Chicama and Trujillo Valleys, between 1 CE and 800 CE.

What are the most famous examples of Moche art?

The most famous examples of Moche art include beaten gold masks and spouted pottery vessels which were made to represent a human head. Many of these pottery vessels are considered by experts to represent living people and so they are actually portraits.

Moche Civilization

Definition

The Moche civilization (also known as the Mochica) flourished along the northern coast and valleys of ancient Peru, in particular, in the Chicama and Trujillo Valleys, between 1 CE and 800 CE. The Moche state spread to eventually cover an area from the Huarmey Valley in the south to the Piura Valley in the north, and they even extended their influence as far afield as the Chincha Islands. Moche territory was divided linguistically by two separate but related languages: Muchic (spoken north of the Lambayeque Valley) and Quingan. The two areas also display slightly different artistic and architectural trends and so the Moche state may be better described as a loose confederacy rather than a single, unified entity.

More about: Moche Civilization

Timeline

1 CE - 800 CE
The Moche civilization flourishes in ancient Peru.
c. 450 CE
The adobe brick pyramids Huaca del Sol and Huaca de la Luna are constructed at Moche, capital of the Moche civilization.
c. 550 CE
Moche is abandoned as the capital of the Moche civilization.