Pre-Inca Culture (300 - 1200 EC.) settled down in the north coast, between the valleys of Lambayeque and Huarmey. It had like cultural center the valley of Moche and Virú near Trujillo.

The nation was of theocratic organization, in its decadence was absorbed by the Chimú nation. Theories on this culture are being changed at the present time due to the discovery of the archaeological location of the Señor de Sipán (The Lord of Sipan) in Huaca Rajada near Chiclayo.

It achieved its highest development in ceramic, of only two colors, characteristics that reflect religious, mythological scenes and of the daily life; pictorial iconography in pots that show combats, erotic encounters, funerals, human sacrifices, etc. It constitutes the ceramic of better quality among all the old Peruvian cultures, besides being only comparable to the Greek ceramic.

They didn't have an urban planning, but they left two important pyramidal huacas of colossal dimensions, the "Huaca del Sol" and "Huaca de la Luna" in Moche, near Trujillo, using in their architecture mud in adobes that had the maker's mark, and recent discovery "El Brujo" in which are found not very well known architectural and artistic characteristics. Great domain in agrarian technics and construction of artificial watering channels, subsisting at the present time in service some of them in the valley of Chicama. They used the guano in the sow of corn, beans, potato, pumpkin, peanut, fruit-bearing trees, etc. They also achieved high development in the textile and metallurgist art.

They practiced the fishing from "Caballitos de Totora (technique that subsists at the present time in Huanchaco and Pimentel); they made use of a writing system, that was transferred by messengers.

The language of this nation was adopted by the nation Chimú and it has left some words in the north coast until the present time and some names and people's last names.

MUSEUMS
To appreciate the Mochica art in their invaluable ceramic pieces, textiles, you can go to the Archaeological museums of Peru, Larco Herrera, de la Nacion in Lima and the Museo Brüning in Lambayeque.