9781422284780

Cordy-Collins knew all about the paintings. She just didn’t think that the people in them were real. The site of the dig in San José de Moro was under a pen where cattle were kept. Because the site was hidden, looters had not stolen what was underneath. In order to dig at the site, Cordy-Collins and the others had to get through layers of mud and ancient brick. The easiest way to get through it would have been to use a big vehicle such as a backhoe. However, the UCLA archaeologists didn’t want to damage any- thing valuable so they had to use small tools such as brushes, spatulas, and their own hands. The team went so deep into the ground—30 feet (9 m)—that they had to make ladders from bamboo.They hauled out the dirt in specially made, heavy-duty metal buckets attached to thick hemp rope.

Moche paintings were just part of an ancient culture’s many artistic works. Located in Peru, the Moche thrived for nearly eight centuries, until about 800 ce .

9