Single-Handled Jar with Geometric Motifs c. 100 - 500

This single-handled jar, adorned with geometric motifs, was crafted by the Moche people in ancient Peru. The Moche flourished in a stratified society, and their art often reflects this social order. Ceramics, like this jar, played a vital role in Moche life, serving both practical and symbolic purposes. The geometric patterns might represent cosmological beliefs, social structures, or even individual lineages within the Moche community. Art historical research helps us understand that the iconography of Moche ceramics was far from arbitrary. Certain images and patterns were likely restricted to specific social groups or used in particular rituals. By studying the context in which this jar was found, along with similar examples, archaeologists and art historians can piece together a more complete picture of Moche society. Such research reveals how art and culture were deeply intertwined in the daily lives and belief systems of this ancient civilization.