The Huaca Rajada-Sipan Site Museum is a Peruvian museum, which is located in
the district of Saña, in the province of Chiclayo, in the department of
Lambayeque.
The museum houses ornaments and jewelry found during an archaeological
excavation in 2007. It also has information about the Lambayeque and Chimu
cultures.
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Entrance with reconstitution of the Man-Owl
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Typical Chavin style ceramics
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Cupisnique ceramics representing a mythical serpent
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Typical ceramics of the Nazca culture
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Typical ceramics from Cajamarca
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Typical pottery from the Chancay culture
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Ceramics in the classic Lambayeque or Sican style
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Warrior Priest - Tomb 14
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Warrior Priest - Tomb 14
Discovery 2007.
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Warrior Priest's skeleton
The Warrior Priest's skeleton lay at the center of its disintegrated
wrappings of cloth and surrounded by ornaments, ritual attire and metal
emblems of rank used in life.
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In this urn remains and some goods such as emblems or combat arms,
parts of headgear, earmuffs and others are preserved.
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To the sides, the offerings and accompanying are presented: the bones
of the young woman, the bones of lama, the original pottery and the
copper tapes surrounding the baskets containing meat of Andean
camelids.
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Ceramic offerings
Ceramic offerings found around the coffin, representing characters in
attitude of prayer, (similar to those found in the tomb of the Lord of
Sipan), deer and humanized drums.
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These are symbolic companions for the journey into the world of the
dead.
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Crown and mask
Tiny copper crown and mask representing the face of the divine Man-Owl,
with earmuffs and Spondylus shell teeth.
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Effigy of Man-Owl
Solid copper effigy of Man-Owl, one of the major deities of the Mochica
world.
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It carries ornaments such as: a headdress and an accessory that is
worn on the back called "cubre espalda" representing the same
bird with outstretched wings, earmuffs, tunic and two necklaces.
- Below are two owl legs holding foxes in their claws.
- Carry combat arms: club, shield and spear-thrower.
- He is standing on a stepped podium.
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Hypothetical recreation of the Warrior Priest
Dressed with his identifying “V” shaped headdress, earmuffs, nose rings,
the typical necklace of feline heads, the tunic of metal plates with a
tail and sandals of gilded copper, he carries the most important symbols
of his rank: the sacrificial cup and an oversized symbolic combat club.
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Faces from the Warrior Priest necklace
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Headdress or diadem
Headdress or diadem in golden copper, representing volutes way in
silhouette of an octopus.
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At the center, the image of a feline deity, with belts of snakes and
appendices.
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Identification of this character in the Mochica world
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Top left: Presentation scene of the cup, officiated by the Radiant
Lord, the Priest and the Priestess.
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Top right: Presentation scene of the cup, officiated only by the
Priestess and the Warrior Priest.
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Bottom left: Mythic scene of the rebellion of the artifacts,
identifying the priestess, Radiant Lord and Warrior Priest.
- Bottom right: Scene of the presentation of the sacrificial cup.
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Identification of this character in the Mochica world
In the representations of Mochica art, ceremonies or performances linked
to their religious and political world were identified. The most
important and complete is the scene of the "Presentation" or
"Sacrifice", where mythical beings, a mixture of men and animals, offer
honors, sacrifices or offerings to a court of characters who preside
over the ritual at a higher level. Before Sipan, this theme was
considered purely mythical or imaginary.
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The "Radiant Lord" (A), the main character, carries ornaments and
emblems that faithfully correspond to those found in the Tomb of the
Lord of Sipan, who in his time was the highest political, military and
religious authority in the region.
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With the discovery of his magnificent tomb and the comparative study,
it was proven that in some religious ceremonies, the rulers assumed
symbolically through their ritual attire, the role of the Mochica
deities of which they considered themselves descendants.
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In the scene, the other characters who address the main character were
later identified as the Priest (B) depicted as an "owl man", whose
tomb was also recovered in Sipan.
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Later, the tomb of a woman was found in San José de Moro, who, based
on her ornaments, corresponded to the priestess (C).
- The fourth character (D) then remained to be identified.
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Identification of this character in the Mochica world
The excavations of 2007 succeeded in recovering and identifying in the
tomb of a new character objects similar to those presented in the
iconography, such as a crown or a "V" shaped headdress, a ritual tunic
with small square plates of gilded copper, which on the back has a kind
of tail with bells and circular earmuffs, completing the high hierarchy
of the Moche in the region of Lambayeque, who has been called the
Warrior-Priest. The clothing and ornaments of his funerary trousseau
indicated military and religious functions.
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In recent years, the museum's team of researchers has analyzed the
funerary context, has reviewed the iconography and has compared the
location of other characters buried in the mausoleum of Sipan,
proposing the existence of a war event in which this character would
have participated, causing the separation of the
political-administrative powers from the religious ones, as observed
in the final stages of the occupation of Sipan.
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Recreation of the funerary trousseau of the Warrior Priest - Tomb
14
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Warrior Priest - Tomb 14
Recreation of the funerary trousseau of the Warrior Priest (Tomb 14).
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The excavations restarted in May 2007, allowed recovering the tomb of
an important Mochica person, who would have been buried in a wooden
coffin inside a rectangular burial chamber sealed with carob beams,
similar to those reported in the tomb of the Lord of Sipan and the
Priest. Stratigraphically it is associated with the construction stage
2 of the Building 1 of the Funeral Platform.
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According to his things recovered in the grave, including crowns,
necklace of feline heads, tunic plates, cups, nose ornaments, clubs,
among others, this character is related to the functions of a Warrior
Priest. This man, aged 30 to 40 years of age, was buried along with
several offerings of ceramic, camelids, objects of metal, valves of
Spondylus and accompanied by a young woman similarly, the arrangement
of some gold and silver objects reflects the concept of dualism
presented in the Andean cultures.
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Noble Warrior - Tomb 15
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Noble Warrior - Tomb 15
The erliest context in Cipan.
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The grave goods
The funerary trousseau shows the probable function that this character
played, the social organization of the time in which he lived, the
technologies used for the elaboration of his objects and the ritual
practices in the funerals of the nobility of Sipan, such as the
tradition of placing metal objects in the mouth, hands or feet of the
buried characters; also the use of the pit tomb and the representation
of icons.
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The characteristics of the ceramics of this tomb correspond to the
early stages of the Moche occupation in Sipan. The sculptural bottles
representing a nocturnal bird, would have a magical-religious
connection, since they have been represented in scenes related to
death or as supernatural beings that assist in human sacrifices.
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The objects that indicate social rank are specific pieces made with
exotic materials and loaded with symbolism, reserved only for the
elite characters. In the clothing of the Moche nobles, the use of
crowns, pectorals, bracelets frequently made of Spondylus shell, nose
rings and ear ornaments with exquisite decorations that respond to the
trends of the time were indispensable.
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Representation of the Noble Warrior
Schematic representation of the Noble Warrior carrying the objects that
distinguished him as a noble character.
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Figurative art of the Mochica
Figurative art of the Mochica represented in ceramics, murals, textiles
and other media show characters wearing significant costumes and objects
related to the activities they did; these details can be used to
recognize the undeniable place in society.
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The military objects and emblems as the shield, the club or spear,
nose ornaments, an accessory that is worn on the back called "cubre espalda" with feline representation, symbol of ferocity, strength and power;
and the belt bells that use the Noble Warrior, show their
participation in combat or ritual ceremonies developed in the early
stages of Sipan.
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Bottles depicting owls
Bottles depicting owls, a magical-religious symbol, required to
accompany the young warrior in his passage to the world of the dead.
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Copper casting work
The copper smelting process allowed the production of small blocks or
basic shapes, which were then laminated.
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To make objects, figurines or solid sculptures, the Moche used the
casting process known as “lost wax”.
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Breaking the mold
After cooling, the mold is broken to remove the image copper, with
surplus and imperfections.
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Fruits and agricultural products
Reproductions of vases representing some of the most important fruits
and agricultural products cultivated by the Mochicas.
- Left: Corn.
- Center: Sweet potato
- Right: Soursop
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Fruits and agricultural products
- Top left: Loche squash.
- Top center: Peanut.
- Top right: Potato.
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Architectural components of Sipan
1,500 years ago, the archaeological complex of Sipan reached its maximum
architectural development, with a total of three large buildings,
smaller platforms, public spaces and access ramps. At the top of the
pyramids there were closed enclosures, intended for worship and
ceremonies, where only rulers, priests and people dedicated to worship
could enter. These buildings were built over several generations with
approximately 88 and a half million adobes.
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The ceremonial pyramid is 70 meters (230 ft) on all four sides of its
base by 40 meters (131 ft) high, the administrative pyramid is 140
meters (460 ft) on each side, with a similar height and the funerary
platform, would have measured 50 by 130 meters (164 by 426 ft) at the
base and more than 12 meters (39 ft) high. There is evidence that
these monumental structures were decorated with polychrome murals and
the roofs of their sanctuaries or palaces were decorated with ceramic
sculptural images representing human heads with serrated horns and
clubs.
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Since 2007, research into the architecture of the funerary platform
has allowed us to define the last two buildings with decorated fronts:
the first painted red and the second yellow, separated by a wide fill
where important offerings were deposited, evidence of the burial rites
of the previous architecture.
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Each building shows internal remodeling that varies the distribution
and use of the spaces in each one. On lower levels, two older
platforms were recorded that could correspond to the first buildings.
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Bottles
Bottle offerings deposited at the architectural ritual burial of the
Funeral Platform.
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Warrior Lord - Tomb 16
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Warrior Lord - Tomb 16
Discovery 2010.
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Grave goods
3D recreation of the funerary trousseau of Lord Warrior.
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Masks
The masks are symbolic objects used in festive ceremonies and
magic-religious rituals. The purpose of using these objects is to
protect the identity of the holder or to acquire the qualities of what
is represented. in the Mochica art, the masks have various shapes that
reflect human characteristics, animals or the merger of both, obtaining
images of supernatural beings.
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In Sipan, numerous miniature masks made of clay inside the tombs of
personages of elite have been rescued; likewise, metal funerary masks
representing naturalistically each accessory worn by lords have been
reported. The verification of their use and function is observed
through the copper effigy found in the tomb 14, where the mask is an
essential element required by the Warrior Priest to appear as a divine
being.
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In the tomb of the Lord Warrior, over the face was placed an elaborate
mask that lacks of piercing eyes, perhaps by the need to perpetuate
the life of the person among those attending his funeral.
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Hypothetical recreation of the Lord Warrior
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The Lord Warrior and his companions
The Lord Warrior was an important figure of the Moche nobility of Sipan
who died around the 5th century, at an approximate age of 40.
Archaeological excavations in 2010 allowed this tomb to be associated
with phase 1 of the yellow building.
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When the tomb was being built, two distinct spaces were arranged. The
main chamber was reserved for the lord. Among the objects that stood
out were three V-shaped crowns, a scepter, a pectoral representing a
"life", four clubs, two pairs of ear rings and seven nose rings that
distinguished his rank and function in society. A young woman was also
placed next to his coffin, along with two small children and
beautifully finished jewelry that reflected the social position she
had in life.
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The second space was located at the southern end of the chamber, at
surface level, where a cane coffin was placed, which housed a teenager
who had among his belongings a "V"-shaped crown and exquisitely
finished ceramic vases, such as a bottle representing a mani fruit.
Finally, four domestic vases and a complete llama were placed as
external offerings.
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Ceramic offerings from tomb 16
This set of objects shows 8 vessels with differences in shape and
decoration.
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Ceramic offerings
When a member of the Moche elite dies, all the items that will be placed
next to the individual are selected according to their rank and social
status. The objects of use are generally placed on or under the body of
the individual, while the offerings made and presented during the burial
are distributed around the individual.
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In tomb 16, the most numerous offerings correspond to sculptural
ceramic jars that represent fauna, flora and noble figures.
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The stylistic characteristics of the ceramics allow us to place the
personage from the Middle Machica phase; it also allows us to make
comparisons with pieces from other tombs, expanding our knowledge of
the time in which the Lord Guerrero lived.
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In this tomb, not only were offerings placed to the lord, but also a
selection of objects for the companions, placing two figurines for the
young woman who was in the main chamber and utilitarian objects for
the adolescent buried in the first compartment.
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For this last character, four exquisitely finished vases were reserved
inside the cane casket. A bottle with a representation of mani stands
out, whose shape and decoration characteristics indicate that these
characters correspond to the first stage of the middle Mochica phase
and maintain links with neighboring valleys.
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Exotic offerings
The Moche people were well acquainted with the environment they
inhabited, extending their area of interaction both to the north of the
Peruvian coast and to the Amazon. Iconographic representations show
species native to tropical areas being transported, presented and used
by the Moche nobles, highlighting the exclusivity in the acquisition of
exotic objects.
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Marine species such as Spondylus sp., Conus sp., and Strombus sp.,
have formed part of the corpus of funerary offerings in the royal
tombs of Sipan. The need to possess objects linked to the marine
world, considered important elements in the cult practices of the
deceased and the dead, highlighted the status of individuals.
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In tomb 16, the presence of a musical object known as pututo, made
from a Strombus sp., placed directly on the character very close to
his scepter and knife, would indicate the participation of the Lord
Warrior in magical religious ceremonies that must have been held in
Sipan.
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Ritual ceremonies
Reenactment of the ceremonies held in Patio 2, during the final stage of
the Mochica occupation of Sipan.
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See also
Source
Location
