The
Moche civilization (alternatively, the Mochica culture, Early
Chimu, Pre-Chimu, Proto-Chimu, etc.) flourished in northern
Peru with its capital near present-day
Moche and
Trujillo, from about 100 AD to 800 AD, during the
Regional Development Epoch. While this issue is the subject of some debate, many scholars contend that the Moche were not politically organized as a monolithic empire or state. Rather, they were likely a group of autonomous polities that shared a common elite culture, as seen in the rich
iconography and
monumental architecture that survive today.