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Moche
and Chicama Valley Sites
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The Moche Foodways Archaeological Project addresses the long-term research questions in the "heartland" of Moche culture--the Chicama and Moche Valleys on the north coast of Peru. Beginning in 1997, the first phase of the project examined archaeological deposits at Santa Rosa-Quirihuac and Ciudad de Dios, two rural farming communities in the Middle Moche Valley about 25 km inland from the coast. The first phase of the project was remarkably successful and produced abundant data addressing elements of Moche foodways.
Beginning in 1998 and continuing through the summer of 2000, the awe-inspiring site of El Brujo has been the host to intensive archaeological investigavtions. The Moche were one of the many cultures that occupied El Brujo's 5000 years of prehistory. The Moche constructed three massive pyramids, adorned with multi-colored murals surrounding large plazas and encapsulating high status burials. Thus far, the significant findings from El Brujo ultimately address Moche culture beyond fascinating treasure that the Moche are known for.
