It’s a discovery that could rewrite what we know about the Moche people, a sophisticated yet mysterious civilization that flourished long before the rise of the much more famous Inca.

The Moche civilization prospered along Peru’s northern coast between 300 and 950 CE and was known for its elaborate social hierarchy and ceremonial human sacrifices to deities.

The Moche reigned for hundreds of years before the well-known Inca civilization dominated Peru. Unlike the Inca, the Moche never encountered Europeans, and there's no written record of their culture.