1,500year-old claws
Information: These 1,500-year-old claws are artefacts from the Moche civilization. They were discovered in the tomb of Moche nobles, at a site near Trujillo in Peru. It would have been attached to an animal skin costume used in duels (mortal ritual battles)
The Moche (known as the Mocheca culture, early Chimo, or pre-Chimo) is a civilization that flourished in northern Peru and its capital was Huacas del Sol y de la Luna (in Spanish: Huacas del Sol y de la Luna), located near the city of Moche in the Trujillo province during the period extending between... 100 AD to 800 AD, during the era of regional developments in Peru. Many scholars assert that the Moche were not politically organized as a cohesive state or empire. Rather, they were a group of self-governing polities and a shared culture, as attested by the rich statues and architectural memorials that exist today. They are particularly known for their engraved ceramics, goldwork, monumental constructions (huacas) and irrigation systems. Moche history can be divided into three periods – the emergence of Moche culture in the Early Moche (100-300 AD), its expansion and prosperity during the Middle Moche period (300-600 AD), and its cultural enlightenment and subsequent decline in the Late Moche (500-750 AD).
The Moche community was dependent on agriculture, with a great deal of investment in building a network of complex irrigation canals to divert river water to irrigate their crops. They also had a developed culture, which included their artistic works that expressed their lives, including detailed scenes of hunting, such as fishing, scenes of fighting and sacrifice, sexual encounters, and elaborate celebrations.
Source: Reuters and NBC