MOCHES (MOCHICAS), who were they?

They were people that existed prior the formation of the Inka Empire. MOCHES settled on the north-ern coast of what is now PERU. They were the dominant CULTURE OF THE NORTH. The name was taken from the SACRED RIVER that runs through their land. Their capital was placed at the midst of the Valley of MOCHE, and they were the GUARDIANS of the ENERGY FIELDS produced in the area. The land of the MOCHES extended along the hot coast from LAMBAYEQUE RIVER VALLEY to the NEPENE RIVER VALLEY (215 miles or 350 kilometers south from Lambayeque).
The best-known remains are near the CITY OF TRUJILLO in the sacred MOCHE River Valley.
Two giant structures, known as THE TEMPLE OF THE SUN (HUACA del SOL) and the TEMPLE
OF THE MOON (HUACA de la LUNA), dominate the site. They truly believed in the astral bodies of the SUN and the MOON. As leaving creatures, these forces or energies were in control of the physical realm. They selected warriors of superhuman nature to serve as priests and, trough ceremonials and rituals, were able to opened the gates between realms and let these forces to take control of the elements that governed the Universe according to their own system of laws. These energies materialized in the physical realm in harmony bringing prosperity but if they were in conflict the live energy of the culture itself was in jeopardy.
The way of understanding how these energy field worked out, they were instructed to channel STREAMS that came from THE ANDES, at the same time they were channeling THE FORCES OF THE UNIVERSE manifested on the ground. The MOCHES form an extensive SYSTEM OF IRRIGATION. The WATER ENERGY was manifested as LIFE ENERGY used to grow corn, potatoes and other crops. The same pattern was followed in a cosmic way.
The sophisticated craft goods that they produced shows the manifestation of these forces over the physical world. Pottery shows heads of individuals, animals, plants, buildings, and demonic beings.
Painted scenes show a profound understanding of ceremonial and everyday life, including the offering of prisoners-of-war to the cosmic forces of the universe and the ritual consumption of their blood.
As skilled metalworkers, in their jewelry they used chemical processes to electroplate gold and silver.
The cease to exist because the energy forces of the universe that maintained them alive moved forcing them to move or being meddled to a bigger energy center, that was the INKA EMPIRE.