Cuchimilco Figurative Vessel

Cuchimilco figurines such as this one were made by the Chancay people who lived in what we now call Peru between 1200 AD and 1450 AD before they fell to the Incan empire. The cuchimilco figures are some of the only distinctive objects left behind by the Chancay people that allow us to catch a glimpse into their ancient history. They are characterized by their unglazed state, stocky body with upraised arms. Although their functions are not confirmed, it is possible that they were used as guardian figures for the deceased inside burial grounds and as accompanying objects in one’s afterlife.