Recuay ritual

In this Recuay vessel, we see seven women surrounding a man or ancestor, who carries a club in one hand and a cup in the other. The women appear to be honoring him as part of a ceremonial libation. In the rear part of the ceramic there is an opening that was used for filling it with corn beer. And in the head of one of the women a conduit can be seen which would have been used to pour corn beer from the vessel. These ceramic vessels may have been used to contain corn beer in rituals like the one depicted in this sculptural decoration, or also as pacchas.

Paccha is a Quechua word that can be translated as “waterfall” or “stream of water”. It is the name given to a type of metaphorical object used in ceremonies that called for the rain needed to ensure good harvests.