Portrait Vessel of a Man with a Cleft Lip and Tattoos

Moche, also called Mochica, Andean civilization that flourished from the 1st to the 8th century CE on the northern coast of what is now Peru. The name is taken from the great site of Moche, in the river valley of the same name, which appears to have been the capital or chief city of the Moche peoples. Their settlements extended along the hot, arid coast of northern Peru from the Lambayeque River valley south for more than 215 miles (350 km) to the Nepeña River valley. The reasons for the demise of the Moche are unknown, but the civilization may have succumbed to earthquakes, prolonged drought, catastrophic flooding arising from the El Niño climatic anomaly, the encroachment of sand dunes on populated areas, or less-tangible social and cultural factors.

• The Art Institute of Chicago on X: "These expressive ceramic vessels ...
• Portrait Vessel of a Man with a Cleft Lip and Tattoos, 100 BC / AD 500
• 587 Moche Ceramic Stock Photos & High-Res Pictures - Getty Images
• 587 Moche Ceramic Stock Photos & High-Res Pictures - Getty Images
• Photo Mug of Portrait Vessel of a Man with a Cleft Lip
• Portrait Vessel of a Man with a Cleft Lip and Tattoos, 100 BC / AD 500
• Ceramics Collection (page 71) - License Storehouse