Pottery+and+Iconography

= Pottery & Iconography  = >Images found on pottery, architecture, and in metallurgy are very useful in deciphering cultures of the Andes that lacked writing as we know it. Unlike the cultures of Central America the groups who resided in the Andes region had no form of writing as we know it. Groups such as the Aztecs and Maya had a system of writing much like hieroglyphs. Groups like the Moche must have recorded traditions orally or in their art work. The Inca had a system of recording involving knots and weaving but also recorded things in other art work such as paintings, pottery, and weaving textiles.

>"Fig. 6. Whether these warriors are fighting or gathering in preparation for battle is hard to determine. They likely are all elite warriors, however. Common soldiers do not appear to be depicted in Moche art. (After Kutscher, 1954, Pl. 19B)"{5}

>Images like the one above give modern anthropologists and idea of what warriors at that time would have looked like. They also show artifacts as they were worn at the time, for example the head dresses with ornaments, facial piercings, and combination of weapons.

==>Here is a Link to a another Wiki about Moche social relations and has a very interesting video on War and Moche a behind the scenes look at the Horniman Museums ceramics collection. Video==

>A number of archaeologists note that Moche pottery lacks depictions of large groups of Moche soldiers and that more likely than not the depictions of warriors fighting was probably symbolic warfare. Another possibility was that there was more conflict within the Moche group than with other groups around them.{3}

{6}

>Images like this one above do depict Moche warriors fighting other indigenous groups. This scene could be depicting a battle but more likely than not depicts ritual killing of captured sacrificial victims. {6}  {2}   >These vessels above illustrate typical motifs of warriors depicted in art. There is the presence of the mace, small shield, and large earrings.Some actually depict the warrior killing the enemy. Other vessels show depictions of warriors personified as animals like the photos shown below. These depictions could have something to do with their mythology or spiritual beliefs. {2} = Distinguishing Moche warrior from enemies in pottery =

>According to the article "Object of Contention: an Examination of Recuay-Moche Combat Imagery." ﻿there are a number of features that allow anthropologists to distinguish between Moche and non Moche. In the Pictures above George F. Lau examines the differences in the Moche and enemy warriors.{9}

__Lau's analysis of the Image on the ceramic vessel {9} __
1.) 9 of the 10 warriors carry the Moche war club 2.) The warriors also are wearing helmets and tunics that appear to be in the Moche Style 3.) All of the Moche warriors wear a backflap which is typical of the Moche Elite 4.) all of the Moche warriors wear face paint or show signs of tattooing while only three of the non Moche warriors have face paint.