The Moche culture lasted from 100 to 800 CE in what is modern-day Peru.

• The Moche were less of a state or empire and more of a society- they lived in a general geographic area and shared cultural values, but were not governed under a uniform political system.
• The Moche practiced a number of religious rituals, some of which involved human sacrifice.
• Moche art appears in a variety of media, such as ceramics, architecture and textiles, and lends insight into their beliefs and culture.
• As in other cultures, Moche ceramics were probably used for educational purposes and communication. We can tell this from the realistic detail that appears.
• The Moche culture used molds to recreate some ceramics.
• Irrigation is an important theme in Moche culture and artwork.

This stirrup spout bottle sculpture shows how defeated warriors were brought to islands on rafts to be sacrificed there. It represents an animal character with supernatural features. The sculpture also represent two prisoners at a smaller scale. One has his hands tied behind his back, another has his hands tied and a rope around his neck. A sea lion serves as the body of the vessel.

Artifact from Museo Largo, Lima Peru - photo from Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4087/4836658960_e2545a9cb6_b.jpg
Text in this section from  Boundless. “The Moche.” Boundless World History I: Ancient Civilizations-Enlightenment. Boundless, 05 Jul. 2016.