Jar in the Form of a Human Head Showing Teeth c. 100 - 500

This terracotta vessel in the form of a human head, was created by the Moche people of ancient Peru. The Moche civilization, flourishing between the 1st and 8th centuries AD, was deeply stratified. This jar is particularly striking because of the intense, almost grotesque, expression etched into the face. The wide eyes and bared teeth could signify a number of different states, whether it be pain, ecstasy, or perhaps even death. Such jars held ritual significance. The Moche were known for their complex religious practices that often involved human sacrifice. Vessels like this were often used in burial rituals, placed in tombs alongside the deceased, perhaps to honor the deceased or to serve some purpose in the afterlife. Whether this jar served as a representation of a captured warrior or as an effigy of someone revered, it serves as a potent reminder of the complexities of Moche society.