1 Nasca Headhunting and the Ritual Use of Trophy Heads

Decapitation and the subsequent ritual use of human heads was a common practice in ancient Peruvian cultures as early as the Preceramic Period (prior to 1800 B.C.). Iconographic representations of head taking can be seen in the art of Chavin, Moche, Huari and the Inca among others, but it was on the south coast of Peru that this tradition was most highly manifested and where excellent preserved examples of these heads are found. The term "trophy head " has been applied to these specimens, implying that the heads were removed during warfare and then displayed as evidence of the warrior's prowess. Although there is evidence for such display, the primary function of the heads was their use in rituals. Prior to the discovery of a substantial sample of preserved trophy heads, iconographic representations of this motif were commonly seen on Nasca ceramics and textiles. A number of "Mythical Creatures " portrayed on the pottery were typically associated with trophy heads. One of the most common representations in early Nasca art was the Anthropomorphic Mythical Being, a human male dressed in elaborate ritual paraphernalia, holding a severed human head in one hand and a club in the other