The Moche civilization (AD 100-750) lived in the narrow strip between the Pacific coast of Peru and the Andes mountains. Moche centers have imposing temples and large urban areas; many of these are open to the public.
Sipán
Sipan Archaeological Project
Sipán was the capital of the Northern Moche region, and like most Moche centers, it boasts two large pyramidal structures (called Huacas) built of plazas and platform mounds. Sipán also has an elite burial, consisting of what appears to be a reenactment of a Moche legend; a reconstruction of which is open to the public. Also see the Elite Burial at Sipán photo essay.
Huaca Colorada
The site of Huaca Colorada is in the northern Moche section of the arid desert of Peru's coastline, some 600 km north of Lima. It is a ceremonial center, with an enormous central platform and evidence for the practice of the Warrior Narrative ceremony. Also in evidence is copper metallurgy: excavator Edward Swenson believes he has discovered evidence that when the ceremonies occurred at the huaca, copper craft specialists moved into the site and prepared objects to be used for the ceremony.Huacas de Moche: Huaca de la Luna
The Huaca de la Luna (Temple of the Moon) at Huacas de Moche is an enormous temple, which includes three large platform mounds and surrounding plazas, all within an area of some 210x290 meters (or 690x950 feet). The impressive size of the architecture is only part of the story, for Huaca de la Luna holds many elaborate and beautiful murals and sculptured reliefs of warrior scenes, fantastic figures and geometric designs.
Huacas de Moche: Huaca del Sol
Moche centers nearly always have two large temples, one larger and apparently of more importance than the other. The secondary temple at Huacas de Moche is Huaca del Sol (Temple of the Sun).
El Brujo
El Brujo is a Moche center located in the Southern Moche region, south of the Paijan Desert close to Trujillo. Like other centers, El Brujo has two enormous huacas, Huaca El Brujo (also called Huaca Cortada) and Huaca Cao Viejo (or Huaca Blanca). The huacas at el Brujo are terrifically well preserved; burials from the site contained additional evidence suggesting the myth of the Warrior Narrative was performed.
