The Moche civilisation developed along the banks of a dozen rivers draining the Andes across the arid north coast into the Pacific.

Its dependence on highly developed irrigation systems in the restricted areas available in the valleys led to an an aggressive hierarchical state evidenced by images of warriors, priests and enthroned lords on Moche pottery.

They had no writing but their pottery, which shows an enduring Chavín influence, achieved a high level of development in the representation of their society.

Moche ceramics are among the finest pre-Columbian accomplishments of sculptural realism and narrative drawing.

They also produced exquisite erotic pottery that is now interpreted as having ceremonial rather than pornographic meaning.

Moche metalwork was more ornate and technologically advanced than that of earlier civilisations.

Body ornaments of gold, silver, copper, and alloys were frequently inlaid with turquoise and lapis lazuli.

Geometric patterns and mythological motifs were used.

The Moche used sun dried mud bricks to built fortified structures perched on the sides of valleys, large palaces on the top of terraces, burial mounds and enormous pyramids.

The extraordinary wealth, power and technological advancement of the Moche civilisation has only recently been revealed by discoveries at Loma Negra in 1960, at Sipán in 1987 and at La Mina in 1990. Undoubtedly, much more is yet to be discovered...