288 15 130 94 Moche warriors wearing elaborate head-dresses are fighting, using clubs and maces and protecting themselves with round or square shields. Clothing and weaponry denote the status and cultural identity of their enemies: some are similarly attired, others are poorly equipped. Cactuses show the battle is taking place somewhere outside the irrigated valley bottoms where the Moche dwelt.
256 292 114 65 A priest cuts the throat of a prisoner and collects the blood in a goblet. Anti-coagulant plants seem to have been used to ensure that the blood stayed liquid long enough to be consumed by the priest-ruler.
16 15 213 94 Conch shells from the coast of Ecuador have been brought to the Moche ruler, carried on the backs of llamas. Conch shells were used as trumpets on ceremonial occasions. Attendants present them to the ruler who is seated on a platform with a pitched roof.
216 124 116 107 A defeated warrior is being led by the hair, which Andean people believed contained a person's essence. He will be stripped of his clothes; these were retained by the victor as trophies.
388 223 146 133 A coffin of an important person has been lowered into his tomb. Now offerings are being added: these include pottery and conch and highly prized Spondylus seashells . The funeral is attended by people with rattles, which were important in ceremonies. The dogs may be intended to accompany the deceased to the other world.
16 124 104 105 Moche warriors wearing elaborate head-dresses are fighting, using clubs and maces and protecting themselves with round or square shields. Clothing and weaponry denote the status and cultural identity of their enemies: some are similarly attired, others are poorly equipped. Cactuses show the battle is taking place somewhere outside the irrigated valley bottoms where the Moche dwelt.
340 124 76 84 Moche warriors wearing elaborate head-dresses are fighting, using clubs and maces and protecting themselves with round or square shields. Clothing and weaponry denote the status and cultural identity of their enemies: some are similarly attired, others are poorly equipped. Cactuses show the battle is taking place somewhere outside the irrigated valley bottoms where the Moche dwelt.
124 124 90 105 Moche warriors wearing elaborate head-dresses are fighting, using clubs and maces and protecting themselves with round or square shields. Clothing and weaponry denote the status and cultural identity of their enemies: some are similarly attired, others are poorly equipped. Cactuses show the battle is taking place somewhere outside the irrigated valley bottoms where the Moche dwelt.
416 124 101 84 A prisoner captured in battle has been stripped naked and is being held by the hair. The blood from the injuries he had received is being collected by the victor. The Moche seem to have conducted wars largely in order to ensure a supply of sacrificial victims.
16 243 227 86 Before being sacrificed, naked prisoners are presented to the ruler, who combined the roles of warleader and priest. The ruler has been given a goblet of blood from prisoners already sacrificed, which he will drink.
420 15 115 96 Moche warriors wearing elaborate head-dresses are fighting, using clubs and maces and protecting themselves with round or square shields. Clothing and weaponry denote the status and cultural identity of their enemies: some are similarly attired, others are poorly equipped. Cactuses show the battle is taking place somewhere outside the irrigated valley bottoms where the Moche dwelt.
260 243 72 48 Criminals have been staked out to be eaten alive by vultures, along with the dismembered remains of sacrificial victims. The female offender may have been a healer who had treated the deceased lord. Most medical attendants were female and if their patient died they were likely to be executed.
332 222 56 69 Criminals have been staked out to be eaten alive by vultures, along with the dismembered remains of sacrificial victims. The female offender may have been a healer who had treated the deceased lord. Most medical attendants were female and if their patient died they were likely to be executed.
