Mochica

In the last 20 years, the Mochica (also known as Moche) of the Northern coast of Peru, has been the most popular field of research (Castillo & Uceda, 2007). The Mochica cultures left behind many magnificent ceramic artifacts that have been admired by travels from around the world for centuries. Historically there is nothing for sure about the Moche culture; the only source of information about the Mochica culture is through the decorative pottery left behind through out the Mochica temples and burial sites. Archeologist used the ceramic artifacts as clues to understand and interpreting the Mochica culture (Benson, 9). The Moche civilization developed some of the most amazing and elaborate images that they used to document events on ceramic pieces through narrative scenes (Jackson, 3). The Moche iconographic became the main source of information that helps tell us about their society. Through extensive research, archeologists have been able to establish a timeline of their history by evaluating the development of the Mochica artwork (Castillo & Ucedo, 2007). The Mochica had a variety of mediums they worked with but their ceramic work is the most popular and is among of the greatest ancient Peruvian artifacts (Jackson, 3). The Mochica civilization has prove to be very sophisticated and artistically well developed through their highly impressive techniques and “complex figural images” (Jackson, 3).

The Mochica civilization came into existence around 100 AD and is estimated to have been around until the late 800 AD (Castillo & Ucedo, 2007). They settled in the northern coast of Peru expanding around several valleys in “regions of La Libertacl, Lambayeque, Jeuetepeque, Chicoma, Moche, Vivu, Chao, Santa, and Nepera” (Castillo & Uce...

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...io stamps were mostly simple designs that were pressed into the vessels creating a shallow impressions of a design that could be repeated over and over again. They also had low relief stamp molds that would create a relief from the surface of the vessels when impressed (Jackson, 69). Many of the low-relief stamps were molds of faces, a lot more detailed than the intaglio stamps. The Moche also used color slips which was only a variety of 4 colors, white/cream and red/brown. They used these slips to paint very interact deigns depicting different scenes (Jackson, 55). There manufactured production allowed them to produce more ceramic pieces faster making this easier and quicker production.

There were nine basic vessel that were produced: ”stirrup-spout bottles, Neck Jars, Neckless Jars, Crucibles, Cups, Dippers, Flaring Bowls, Neck Bowls. And Bowls” (Bernier,2000-).