Moche civilization: where did it develop and what remains of it?

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5 min readMar 15, 2023

The Moche civilization was discovered relatively recently. What do we know about its representatives?

Vessel with figure of human head, Moche Culture — [PHoto: Jl FilpoC, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons]

The Moche civilization is an ancient pre-Inca civilization. It developed on the northern coast of Peru between 100 and 800 AD. Its representatives are still known today for their advanced construction techniques. Among other things, they erected pyramids and elaborate temple complexes.

The Huaca de la Luna (Pyramid of the Moon) and Huaca del Sol (Pyramid of the Sun) pyramids were made of dried bricks and decorated with colorful wall paintings. The Huaca de la Luna contains some of the most impressive wall paintings of the Americas. They depict religious ceremonies, battles and the daily life of the communities of the time.

Moche culture and its achievements

The Moche culture was discovered in the late 19th century. At that time, archaeologists began to explore the area around the modern city of Trujillo in northern Peru. The research showed that the Moche peoples co-created a highly organized society with a hierarchical class system. They built sprawling cities, the most famous of which is Chan Chan, one of the largest cities in pre-Columbian America.

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