Moche warrior pot

The Moche civilization: An overlooked parallel to European civilizations

The Moche people, a forgotten ancient civilization in Peru, thrived between 200 BC and 650 AD. Their society was as sophisticated as their European counterparts, demonstrating significant similarities despite no known contact between the two regions. The Moche left behind an extensive collection of pottery, offering insights into their culture and history. These pottery objects, serving both as sculptures and jugs, depict various themes, including animals, priests, and warriors. The sheer quantity of surviving pottery suggests a highly organized society with advanced training, mass production, and distribution systems. The Moche civilization flourished in a narrow strip of land along the Pacific coast, relying on intricate canal networks and marine resources for sustenance. Warfare played a central role in Moche art, and their pottery also depicted scenes of brutal combat. The defeated warriors in combat were ritually sacrificed, a practice supported by archaeological evidence.