Cloth & Clay
Communicating Culture 

Moche was located on the north coast of Peru. Its pyramids, Huaca del Sol (Pyramid of the Sun) and Huaca de la Luna (Pyramid of the Moon), were the leading ceremonial and political centres for the Moche realm in A.D. 450. The Pyramid of the Sun is one of the largest structures in the Americas, rising to 40 m above the valley floor and built with millions of adobe (mud) bricks. Known as the first identifiable state of the Andes, the Moche united many coastal groups, built and controlled extensive irrigation networks, and produced thousands of ceramic vessels. They used moulds to make vessels like this portrait head, and exported them throughout their territory.

Moche art is expressive; every significant animal and plant in the region has been depicted by a Moche artist. The artwork illustrates many activities such as royal burial, hunting and warfare. Moche art also includes personal portraits of actual individuals. These portrait heads were realistic portrayals of nobles and leaders. This suggests that the Moche were interested in their leaders as individuals, not only as manifestations of a royal office, but as real people.