San Jose de Moro facts for kids

San Jose de Moro is an ancient place in Peru where the Moche people lived a long time ago. It's an archaeological site, which means scientists study old things found there. This place was important for special ceremonies and burials between the years 400 and 1000 AD.

Where is San Jose de Moro?

The San Jose de Moro site is located near the Chamán River in the Jequetepeque District valley of Peru. It's along the main road called the Pan-American Highway, between the cities of Trujillo and Chiclayo. The site covers about 10 hectares, which is like 10 football fields. It sits about 13 meters above sea level.

This area is a desert, so it's very sandy and dry. It hardly ever rains here. These dry conditions are actually good for archaeologists because they help keep ancient things well-preserved. There are other important old sites nearby, like Cerro Chepen and Pacatnamu.

Who lived at San Jose de Moro?

People lived at San Jose de Moro for a long time, from about 400 AD to 1350 AD. Archaeologists divide this time into different periods based on what they find.

Early Moche Period (400–600 AD)

The first people at San Jose de Moro were from the Middle Moche Period. During this time, people were buried in special "boot-shaped" tombs. They would place pots and metal objects with the dead. The ground also shows holes from posts, which might have held up temporary shelters for visitors during funerals. They also found old cooking areas and broken pots.

Peak Moche Period (600–850 AD)

The Late Moche Period was when the Moche culture was strongest in this valley. Large storage pots, called paicas, were found. These pots held chicha, an alcoholic drink. People likely drank a lot of chicha during big parties and burial ceremonies.

There's a lot of evidence that many people lived here then, like many cooking areas and well-used surfaces. This was also when most burials happened, including pit tombs, boot-shaped tombs, and chamber tombs. The famous tombs of the priestesses of San Jose de Moro were built during this time. These powerful women were like leaders of the valley.

Time of Change (850–1000 AD)

The Transitional Period was a time of big changes. The Moche empire started to become weaker, and the Lambayeque culture grew stronger. Because there wasn't one main power, people had more freedom to express their culture. This is seen in the different kinds of artifacts found from this time.

Even though the Moche power ended, people still lived at San Jose de Moro. Many foreign pots were found with local burials, showing that people traded or traveled a lot. These styles later mixed to form the Lambayeque and Chimú cultures.

Later Lambayeque Period (1000–1350 AD)

The last period of occupation at the site was during the Lambayeque Period. San Jose de Moro became less important as a burial center. However, it still held some respect, and important people were buried there. During this time, more burials show people in a bent position, with symbols of the Lambayeque culture.

Discoveries at the Site

Excavations started at San Jose de Moro in 1991 and are still going on today. The project is led by archaeologist Luis Jamie Castillo from Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru. At first, they dug in small 2m x 2m squares. Now, they dig in much larger 10m x 10m squares. This helps researchers understand how different ceremonial and burial areas are connected.

Archaeologists have found three main types of tombs. They also found signs of big feasts, like large areas for making and storing chicha. In 2019, a student found a small, unbroken figurine that was about 1000 years old. It was unusual because it was found alone, not in a grave with other items.

One of the most complete and beautiful figurines we have brought up from here in several years.

—Gary Urton

Types of Tombs

Pit tomb These are the simplest type of burial at San Jose de Moro. They are long, shallow graves, usually holding one person with a few items. Pit tombs are mostly from the later Transitional and Lambayeque periods, but some are from the Moche period.

Boot-shaped tomb These tombs are linked to the Middle and Late Moche periods. They have a 2-meter deep vertical shaft that leads to a horizontal room or chamber. The deceased and their offerings were placed in this room. After the burial, the room was sealed with a wall made of adobe bricks.

Chamber tombs Chamber tombs are the most complex tombs found at San Jose de Moro. They are built in a square shape with adobe walls and roofs made from algarrobo wood beams. The walls sometimes have small shelves or benches. The contents and size of chamber tombs change depending on the time period. These tombs often hold more than one person and many valuable offerings.

Moche Art and Symbols

Moche iconography, which is mostly seen on Moche pots and fine line pottery, helps us understand what the Moche people believed and how they performed rituals. The Moche did not have a writing system. So, their detailed art and iconography show us their daily life and practices. Some experts believe that all Moche art was sacred, even simple pictures. Moche art also shows shamans, with pictures of half-human, half-animal beings and complex ceremonies.

The Priestesses

Over many years of digging at San Jose de Moro, archaeologists have found several burials of important women. Their importance is shown by their clothing and the many valuable items buried with them. Some of these women wore costumes and ornaments seen in Moche iconography that show a special ceremony. This complex Moche ceremony involved special offerings. The women buried at San Jose de Moro wore similar headdresses and were buried with "Sacrifice goblets" like those seen in the art. Their important role in these ceremonies is clear from their elaborate tombs, rich offerings, and evidence of grand feasts held in their honor.

Tomb M-U41, The first Priestess This tomb held a woman who was about 30–40 years old. She was buried with the same ornaments as the Priestess shown in Moche art. She was placed in a cane coffin covered with copper discs. Metal shapes of arms, legs, and a headdress were attached to the coffin. Five other women were buried with her inside the chamber tomb. The tomb also contained necklaces made of spondylus shell, metal objects, and ceramic pots.

Other Important Burials

Burial M-U1221 This burial is from the Late Transitional Period. It contained several women who might have been healers or shamans. While they didn't have all the usual paraphernalia of shamans, they did have some items that suggest a connection to healing practices.

See also

In Spanish: Complejo arqueológico San José de Moro para niños