Moche burial practices

The Moche civilization of ancient Peru practiced elaborate burial rites, often burying nobles and warriors with their possessions, including pottery, jewelry, and textiles, to honor their status and ensure a comfortable afterlife. They sometimes buried individuals with sacrificial offerings, believed to accompany them into the afterlife or serve a spiritual purpose. Burial sites varied from simple graves to complex tombs with intricate murals, reflecting social hierarchy and religious beliefs. These practices reveal their emphasis on cosmology, status, and rituals designed to sustain the soul beyond death.