Maestro Bartolo Villanueva in La Cría (Northern Costal Peru)

In this powerful image from La Cría (1988), a coastal maestro performs a ritual holding a sword, symbol of the fight against illness, and a moon, representing spiritual guidance. His moon-shaped hat and lunar symbols reflect the deep significance of the moon in coastal traditions, especially among the Muchik people. The moon is considered a force of clarity that helps access dreams. Fittingly, Sipán means 'moon', a detail that adds depth to this story. This maestro in fact helped guide the discovery of the royal tomb of Sipán after a resident of the region had recurring dreams of a mysterious burial. Seeking clarity, the dreamer turned to the maestro, who interpreted the visions and revealed where to dig. This powerful union of dream and insight led to one of Peru’s greatest archaeological discoveries.