Mortar

About this object

Narrative

The Early Horizon style pre-dates the arrival of the Chavin influence on the North Coast. A similar mortar was found in a dedicatory burial at Punkari in the Napena Valley.

Physical description

Large, dark brown, cylindrical mortar. The exterior surface is carved in low relief with a geometric pattern consisting of two trifoliate motifs on opposite sides of the bowl, with two vertical linear motifs arranged evenly between. These motifs extend from below the lip of the bowl to the base. In between each motif there are three horizontal bands carved just below the flanged lip of the rim. Both exterior and interior surfaces are pitted overall, with exception of the smooth areas where the bowl has been repaired and in-filled around the base and on the sides.