MOCHICA CULTURE: DISCOVERY, LOCATION, CHARACTERISTICS, ORGANIZATION - HISTORY - 2025

The Mochica or Moche culture was a civilization located in present-day Peru, which developed between 100 and 800 AD. Members of this culture first settled on the northern Peruvian coast and later spread south. The discovery of the first remains was carried out by Max Uhle, in 1909.

Moche civilization did not come to form a unified political unit. Instead, it was made up of independent groups, with some common characteristics. The corresponding governments were theocratic and society was highly hierarchical.

Feline with a serpent's tail that holds a trophy head between its claws. Mochica culture. 100-750 d. C. Museum of America - Source: Dorieo

The Mochicas had to develop important hydraulic engineering works to be able to bring water to their fields. Fishing, for which they built very advanced boats, and trade were two other important economic activities of this civilization. In the cultural sphere, its ceramics are considered one of the most outstanding in the entire region.

According to the study of the remains found, the Mochica civilization began to decline around 650 AD. C. The main cause was a great drought caused by the El Niño phenomenon. Although the northern Mochicas resisted a little longer, eventually the culture gradually disappeared. His influence, however, was greatly felt in the Chimú culture.

Discovery

The discoverer of the Mochica culture was Max Uhle, a German archaeologist. The scientific mission was sponsored by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst and began in 1899.

Max uhle

Since that year, Uhle has excavated 31 funeral sites, in an area near the Huaca de la Luna and the Huaca del Sol, in the vicinity of Moche. The final find occurred in 1909, although at first the remains found were classified as proto-Chimú (ancestor of the Chimú culture).

Rafael Larco Hoyle

Other archaeologists who studied the Mochica culture were the Peruvians Julio C. Tello and Rafael Larco Hoyle. The latter was distinguished by its division of the periods of this civilization. For this, it was based on the styles and technique used in the remains of ceramics found.

Despite these studies, current experts point out that it is difficult to make clear statements about this culture. This is because many Mochica sites had suffered looting and, therefore, many elements had disappeared.

In recent decades, especially after the discovery of the intact tombs of the Lord of Sipán and the Lady of Cao, the study of the Mochicas has been relaunched.

Geographical and temporal location

The Mochica civilization, also called Moche due to the name of the valley in which its first remains appeared, originated in Peru between 100 BC. C. and 800 d. It is, therefore, a contemporary culture to the Nasca, after the Chavín and before the Chimú, which it influenced in a notable way.

According to experts, the first inhabitants settled in the valley of the Moche River. From that area, the Mochicas were expanding their territories through the rest of the valleys of the north coast. Likewise, although to a lesser extent, they settled in some areas of the south.

Territory

The territory occupied by the Moche culture covered a large part of the north coast of present-day Peru. Thus, they occupied the departments of Ancash, Lambayeque and La Libertad.

Mochicas from the south and mochicas from the north

At first, archaeologists believed that the Mochicas had established a cultural unity. Later, however, it was discovered that there were two different cultural zones, separated by the Paiján desert.

The most important settlements of the northern Mochicas were found in the valley of the Jequetepeque river, where San José de Moro and Huaca Dos Cabezas are located, and in the valley of the Lambayeque river, where the tomb of Sipán was found.

For their part, the southern Mochicas established their urban centers in the Moche Valley, where the Huaca del Sol and La Luna are located, and in the Chicama River Valley, where the El Brujo Complex is located.

Slope

Experts have established that the southern Mochicas managed to conquer part of the northern territories. However, this situation of southern dominance did not last long. About 550 AD C., a prolonged drought caused this culture to begin to decline.

The most severe drought period could last for 31 years, possibly due to the El Niño phenomenon. The lack of food caused the low areas of the valleys to be abandoned and the migration to the interior of them.

This situation was used by Moche Norteña to regain part of their domains. However, their civilization was already very weakened. The decline lasted until 800 AD. C, when a series of invasions by the Wari people gave the final blow to the Mochica domain.

Characteristics of the Mochica culture

The mochicas have been included within the period of master craftsmen or great city builders.

This culture did not create any unified political unit, but each important center had its own government, of a military-theocratic character. It is known that they were great warriors and that each settlement tried to expand its territory through conquest.

Economy

The main economic activity of the Mochica culture was agriculture. Its cultivated fields provided good crops of corn, tubers such as potatoes, yucca or sweet potatoes, and fruits of various kinds.

Along with the crops for food, the Mochicas also used part of the land to obtain textiles for their industry. The most used material was cotton.

This agricultural wealth was not easy to obtain. The occupied areas did not supply enough water to irrigate all their lands, so they had to develop an advanced irrigation system to increase their fertility.

Fishing

Its location in coastal areas allowed the Mochicas to take great advantage of maritime products. Fishing became one of his most important activities. According to studies carried out, they frequently consumed sole and rays, as well as crabs or sea urchins.

The Mochicas did not limit themselves to taking advantage of the resources near the coast. To increase the catch area and their productivity, they built large boats.

Navigation

As has been pointed out, the Mochicas always had a great relationship with the sea. To increase the fishing they invented a type of boat called caballito de totora. Likewise, they also built rafts with which they traveled to nearby islands in order to obtain various products.

This domain of navigation was not limited to fishing. As a warrior people, the Mochicas also manufactured warships with capacity for numerous soldiers.

Proto-writing

One of the greatest experts on Mochica culture, archaeologist Rafael Larco Hoyle, claimed that they had developed a proto-writing system, which he called Pallariform writing. According to his research, this consisted of the use of lines, points, zigzags and other figures to record numerical and, possibly, non-numerical data.

These characters were engraved on the pallares directly or on the pallares drawn on the ceramic vessels. More complex incisions appeared on the main face, so it is thought that this was where the message was recorded. On the other side, instead, there was only a simple combination of stripes, which Larco Hoyle thought were a code to aid reading.

War

The decoration of the walls or of the ceramic pieces seems to prove that the war was of great importance to the Moches. Another proof of its warlike character are the strategic fortifications found on the limits of its territories.

The first hypothesis states that the Mochicas tried to expand their territory through conquest. Other researchers point out that war raids could have the purpose of capturing prisoners for human sacrifice.

Social and political organization

The social and political organization of the Mochica culture was based on a theocratic government and on the existence of well-differentiated social groups.

On the other hand, its already mentioned warrior character was reflected in the military campaigns to conquer new territories. When they managed to defeat their enemies, they linked the lands through a system of roads on which it was necessary to pay taxes to travel them.

It should be borne in mind, however, that the discovery of the Lord of Sipán site is causing some of the theories about this culture to be changing.

Administration

The political organization of the Mochica culture was based on theocracy. This means that religion played a fundamental role in government.

On the other hand, its territory was divided into two different regions: the northern Mochica, between the Jequetepeque and Lambayeque valleys; and the southern Mochica, in the Moche and Chicama valley.

Both areas had their own governor, although they maintained close relations with each other. That ruler, who also held the title of priest, monopolized all political, cultural and religious power.

The ceremonial centers that have been studied prove this accumulation of power. All administrative, governmental and religious functions were concentrated in them, without any kind of separation.

Hierarchical society

Mochica society was divided between the rulers and the common people. Each of these groups also included different subcategories depending on their functions.

At the top of the upper class was Cie-quich, a kind of absolute king who concentrated all authority. When heading a theocratic government, this figure was considered as a descendant of the gods and supernatural powers were attributed to him.

After this ruler appeared the Alaec or Coriec, with powers subordinate to those of the cie-quich. The priestly caste was also subordinate to the monarch and had reserved the functions of organizing religious rites and ceremonies. At this same level were the warriors, who also had some functions related to religion.

At the bottom of the social pyramid was, in the first place, the common people. Within this category were the peasants, fishermen, merchants or artisans. Finally, there was another class called yanas, whose sole function was to serve all of the above.

Religion

The Mochicas worshiped a large number of gods, most of them punishers, as shown by the different representations that show them beheading people. The main ones were the Sun and the Moon, to which we must add others related to different animals.

The religion of this culture gathered the influence of many peoples to create its own mythology. For this reason, their divinities seem quite heterogeneous. Within its pantheon local deities such as the jaguar, the demon-crab or the demon-serpent stood out.

Conception of life

The Moches believed in life after death. For them, when someone died they passed to another sphere of the world, where they continued their existence with the same privileges and obligations that they had had in life.

This belief led to the dead being buried with their goods and provisions. These burials also clearly reflected the social position of each deceased.

Ai Apaec

Ai Apaec, also known as the beheading god, was the main deity of the Mochica culture. He was the most feared and also the most adored. He was considered the creator god who had to protect the Mochicas, favor their triumphs and provide them with food.

Representations of this god show a human figure with the mouth of a tiger with large fangs. Many human sacrifices were meant to honor this deity. Most of the victims were prisoners of war, although Moche citizens were also sometimes sacrificed.

Yes and other gods

The second most important deity was Si, the Moon. This goddess controlled the storms and the seasons, so it was essential to honor her so that the harvests were good.

If it was considered more powerful than the Sun itself, since it could be seen in the sky both day and night, although Ai Apaec was the main deity. However, the cult of Si was more widespread, since apart from its influence on agriculture, it was also in charge of the tides, which affected fishermen and sailors.

The Mochicas represented some lunar eclipses in their pottery. According to their beliefs, that event happened when the moon was attacked, although finally it always managed to win and appear again.

Apart from the above, his pantheon was also composed of anthropozoomorphic gods, a mixture of animal and human. Among them were the Owl, the Catfish, the Condor and the Spider.

Ceramics

Ceramics were the most recognized Mochica cultural representation. In fact, its production considered one of the most outstanding of all civilizations prior to the Spanish conquest.

characteristics

The Mochicas used their ceramics to record their religious and cultural world. To achieve this, they included sculptural images or paintings in their creations. These representations have been one of the most valuable sources to know the reality of this culture.

Among its main characteristics, four factors stand out:

- Sculptural: since they represented human, plant or animal figures. In this field, the huaco portraits stand out.

- Realistic: although there are exceptions, most of its production is quite realistic.

- Documentary: this realism and the chosen theme allow us to know what the daily reality of the Moches was like, as well as their beliefs and government.

- Pictographic: many huacos represent richly painted and decorated figures.

The aforementioned realism, as noted, had some exceptions. Mochica artisans also made symbolic pieces, with abstract and conceptual representations. Sometimes, this type of representation coexisted in the same piece with realism.

Representations of a sexual nature

The pictographic representations with which the Mochicas adorned their ceramics used to reflect scenes of ceremonies, wars, hunts, and war stories. In them, the dynamism with which they managed to endow their creations stood out. However, these types of ornaments were not used with household items, such as water pots, whose finish was much simpler.

On the other hand, a very prominent theme in the huacos was sexual representations. In these cases, scenes of onanism, group orgies and other sexual acts were shown very explicitly. According to some experts, the intention could be religious, with an attempt to symbolize fertility.

Periods

Larco Hoyle analyzed more than 30,000 ceramic pieces and established a periodization of their development:

- Mochica I: this first period was characterized by the production of small portrait vessels and vessels with human, animal or plant images. On the other hand, the production of stirrup-handle bottles were also frequent, always adorned with paintings.

- Mochica Phase II: the cooking technique improved enormously. The pieces were more slender and the paintings representing animals were better made.

- Phase Mochica III: the most typical of this stage were the portrait glasses, as well as the realistic representations of animals.

- Mochica Phase IV: its artisans introduced some new forms and began to decorate the pieces with landscapes.

- Mochica V period: the elaborations became more complex, with a daring and almost baroque finish.

Sculpture

Mochica sculpture is closely related to its ceramic production. The anthropomorphic representations are remarkable, which reflected human faces in a very realistic way. Likewise, they also excelled in religious sculpture.

Sculptural ceramics

Mochica artists could not represent the themes that they preferred. As in other times, it was the elites who decided what to reflect in the sculptures. This did not prevent them from reaching a very high level in their creations, especially when they managed to endow them with great naturalism.

The sculptures were made on the same ceramic pieces. Thus, they modeled human faces, figures of animals and plants. One of the most frequent representations was that of the High Priest, always with a knife or rattle in his hand. This figure appeared surrounded by a group of supernatural helpers, with feline or vampiric features.

Metallurgy

Another field in which the Mochicas achieved great mastery was in metallurgy. Their skill allowed them to work with gold, silver, copper, lead, or mercury. Over time, the smelting of metals and the creation of alloys also dominated.

Alloys

Beyond the quality of its products, the metallurgy of the Mochicas stood out for the technical innovations introduced. Not only did they discover and take advantage of all the properties of silver, gold or copper, but they also developed new methods to melt and combine the metals.

In this way, the Moches were able to work with highly sophisticated alloys, such as that created by combining chromium and mercury to obtain golden bronze or golden silver. To achieve this, they followed a series of well-studied patterns. Another alloy that they used with great frequency was the tumbaga, obtained from the mixture of gold and copper.

In addition to the above, the Mochicas used different reagents, from common salt to potassium alum. All this knowledge allowed them to improve the melting of metals, their refining, their welding or rolling.

Creations

The mastery of metallurgy resulted in the production of a large number of objects. Some, such as cups, plates or tongs, were intended for everyday use. Others, such as earrings or necklaces, were made as accessories for clothing. They also used their techniques to make better weapons or arrowheads.

Finally, remains of articles that were used in religious rites have been found. Among them, masks and musical instruments.

farming

Although they settled in valleys crossed by rivers, not all the surrounding terrain was suitable for agriculture. The Moches had to develop an irrigation technology in order to improve crops.

The foods they grew the most were purple corn, yucca, squash or potatoes. Likewise, they also obtained various types of fruit. Finally, they used their cotton production for their textile industry.

Hydraulic engineer

As noted, part of the land inhabited by the Mochicas was desert. However, this culture made their agriculture very profitable and even surpluses were produced.

To achieve this, they created an artificial irrigation system made up of canals that transported water from rivers to ditches. On the other hand, they also discovered the fertilizing power of guano.

Architecture

The irrigation systems mentioned were, without a doubt, one of the most important achievements of Mochica construction. Besides, they were also the creators of other highly relevant structures, such as the huacas.

The material most used by this culture was adobe, which, together with clay, was the base of their constructions.

buildings

The Moche built palaces, temples, and large cities. In the first two cases, they used to cover the walls with murals in low or high relief, colored with natural dyes that were reinforced with collagen. This decoration represented their gods, legends and myths.

According to experts, these types of buildings were built thanks to the labor provided by the Mochica people and by prisoners of war.

In some cases, the architects used stones as material. This happened on the defensive walls and on the terraces.

The remains found allow us to affirm that both the temples and the houses were built following a rectangular plan. However, the buildings located on the hills followed a circular shape.

Wall paintings

The wall paintings have allowed experts to learn much more about the Mochica culture. In them they reflected their gods and / or the myths that they starred in.

Two of the archaeological sites where murals of great beauty have appeared are the Huaca de la Luna and La Huaca Cao Viejo (El Brujo).

In the first case, the paintings have five different colors. The best known mural depicts a human-shaped character called a "demon with prominent eyebrows." According to experts, it could be a representation of Ai Apaec, the main Moche deity.

On the other hand, in Huaca Cao Viejo a large mural has been found in which a procession of naked prisons is contemplated. Most likely, they were sentenced to death on their way to execution.

Huaca del Sol and Huaca de la Luna

The huacas are pyramidal structures very typical of Mochica architecture. The two most important are the Sun and the Moon.

The first is 43 meters high and is made up of five superimposed terraces. It is assumed that political activities were carried out there.

The Huaca de la Luna, for its part, is located just 500 meters from the previous one. Its height is somewhat lower, since it only reaches 21 meters. The upper platform has some rooms whose walls are decorated with murals. The function of this building was religious and it is thought that it was the place where human sacrifices were performed.

References

1. Peruvian history. Mochica culture. Obtained from historiaperuana.pe
2. Bernat, Gabriel. Moche culture or Mochica culture. Obtained from gabrielbernat.es
3. EcuRed. Mochica culture. Obtained from ecured.cu
4. Scher, Sarah. Moche culture, an introduction. Retrieved from khanacademy.org
5. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. Moche. Retrieved from britannica.com
6. Cartwright, Mark. Moche Civilization. Retrieved from ancient.eu
7. Hirst, K. Kris. The Moche Culture. Retrieved from thoughtco.com
8. Quilter, Jeffrey. The Moche of Ancient Peru. Recovered from peabody.harvard.edu